This document provides an overview of electronic database searching. It discusses what electronic databases are, how to access databases on and off campus, which databases to use for different subject areas like health sciences, science and technology, and social sciences. It then covers general search strategies and specific searching methods like basic, advanced, Boolean, wildcard searches. It concludes with tips on saving search results, setting up alerts, and lists to evaluate journal quality.

1. Database Searching
SiracheepKhondok
Librarian
Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center

2. What are electronic databases?
Most of electronic databases are bibliographic. They
contain details of publications (books, journal articles,
conference papers, theses etc.).
Some databases also provide full-text articles
(eg. ScienceDirect).
All databases are accessible on the web.
Database Searching

3. On-campus
You can login by your University username and password.
Off-campus http://ejournal.mahidol.ac.th
or using Virtual Private Network (VPN)

4. Which database should I use?
Mahidol University subscribe to a range
of databases: 3 subject areas
Health Sciences
Science & Technology
Social Sciences & Humanities

5. Health Sciences
AAAS Science,
Academic Search Complete,
AdisOnline,
Blackwell Synergy,
BMJ Journlas Online,
CINAHL,
Clinical Key,
ClinicalResource@Ovid,
DAO – PQDD,
Dissertations Full Text,
EBSCO A to Z,
Faculty of 1000,
HighWire, H.W. Wilson,
ISI Web of Science,
Journal@OVID Full Text,
Mahidol University Research
Databases, MDConsult,
Medscape, Nature,
Nursing Consult, Primal
Pictures, ProQuest
Nursing & Allied Health
Source, PubMed,
ScienceDirect : eBooks,
ScienceDirect : eJournals,
SciFinder (new web
version, SCOPUS,
SpringerLink eBook,
SpringerLink : journal,
SwetsWise, Thieme,
WHO Publication,
Wiley InterScience

6. AAAS Science,
ACM : Association for
Computing Machinery,
Academic Search
Complete,
Blackwell Synergy,
BMJ Journlas Online,
CINAHL,
ClinicalResource@Ovid,
DAO – PQDD,
Dissertations Full Text,
Faculty of 1000,
HighWire,
H.W. Wilson,
IEEE Xplore,
ISI Web of Science,
Journal@OVID Full
Text, MDConsult,
Medscape,
Nature, Primal
Pictures, ProQuest,
Nursing & Allied Health
Source, PubMed,
ScienceDirect eBooks,
ScienceDirect
eJournals,
SciFinder, SCOPUS,
SpringerLink eBooks,
SpringerLink eJournals,
SwetsWise, Thieme,
WHO Publication,
Wiley InterScience
Science & Technology

7. Academic Search Complete,
Education Research Complete,
Business Sources Complete,
Dissertations Full Text,
EMERALD,
Hospitality and Tourism Complete,
H.W. Wilson,
ISI Web of Science,
JSTOR,
OCLC FirstSearch,
Opposing Viewpoints,
Resource Center (OVRC),
ProQuest Digital Dissertations,
ScienceDirect eBooks,
ScienceDirect eJournals,
SCOPUS,
SpringerLink eBook
Social Sciences & Humanities

8. General Search Strategy
- Create a search statement using keywords
- Use databases appropriate to your topic.
- Use keywords and controlled language
- Use Boolean searching
- Change approaches (gathering information
is not a linear process)
- Use applicable keywords and controlled
vocabulary to search in the new database(s)
and other resources

9. Searching methods
- Basic Searches
- Advanced Searches
- Journal Browse
- Controlled Vocabulary
- Subject lists
- Limits
- Citation Search
- Other Features
Search within results
Analyze results
Search history
Related articles and links

10. Database Searching
1. Keyword Searching
And
2. Controlled Vocabulary or Subject Searching

11. Database Searching
General words :
Introduction, method, etc.
Stop words :
the, an, at, for, from, then, as, of, for, before,
after, then, again, since, because, etc.

12. Database Searching
Boolean Operators
X AND Y X Y
X OR Y X Y
X NOT Y X Y

13. Database Searching
Wildcard ?
wom?n ==> woman or women
TRUNCATION *
agricultur* = agriculture, agricultural, agriculturalist
Phrase searching
"foot and mouth"

14. Database Searching
Proximity Operators
NEAR/n W/n
Pre/n SENTENCE
PARAGRAPH etc.

15. Database Searching
Limiting searches
date
language
document type

16. Database Searching
Saving your search results
Email records to yourself
Save on to your network drive, memory stick,
or on another directory on your PC
Print out
Export into bibliographic management software

17. Database Searching
Alert

18. Database Searching
Beall’s List
LIST OF PUBLISHERS
http://scholarlyoa.com/publishers/
LIST OF STANDALONE JOURNALS
http://scholarlyoa.com/individual-journals/