This document introduces the online research databases available through the Palomar College Library. It explains that the databases contain articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers that can be useful sources of information for class assignments or personal research. It provides instructions for accessing the databases on or off campus and navigating the database pages. It then demonstrates in detail how to use three general databases - Opposing Viewpoints, CQ Researcher, and Academic Search Premier - to search for information on a topic and access full text articles.

1. Part 2: Using the Online
Research Databases

2. This unit is designed to:
• Introduce you to the diverse array of research
databases available at Palomar College Library.
• Understand how the databases are organized
• Choose a database appropriate for your personal
research needs
• Help you get acquainted with three of the general
use databases
Ready, set, go!

3. Whether you are doing research for a class
assignment or personal knowledge, articles from
magazines, journals and newspapers can be
valuable sources of information. To find these
articles in the Palomar College Library, start at the
library’s home page:
http://www.palomar.edu/library
Click on either of these links: Databases/Articles
or Articles . From off campus, you can log onto all
the databases listed in this guide using your
student ID number and eServices password.

5. Either link takes you to the Online Research Databases.
They are arranged by type of resource (General,
Reference, News) and by area of study (Science &
Technology, Behavioural Science, etc).
Each one has a link to see its description and open the
databases.

6. When you start your research – think first!
• Where will you find information on your topic?
• Will there be definitions and background
information in reference sources like
encyclopedias and dictionaries?
• Have newspapers published information on this
topic?
• Will it come from a specialized area of study
like the behavioral sciences - psychology or
sociology, for instance? From the field of
science? Somewhere else?
• Is this a topic that’s more general in nature?

7. • Opposing Viewpoints
• CQ Researcher
• Academic Search Premier
• ProQuest Newspapers
• Ethnic Newswatch

8. Opposing Viewpoints is a good resource for controversial
issues. It contains pro and con essays on a variety of “hot
topics” like gun control, abortion, same-sex marriage and
many others.

9. There are two ways to search Opposing
Viewpoints. The first is a “keyword search.” As
shown below, just type your topic into the search
box and then click on Search.

10. The results will be categorized into groups:
•Viewpoints
•News
•Academic Journals
•Reference
•Magazines
•Websites
To expand a section, click on View All. To read
a particular article, click on the title underlined
in blue.

11. If you haven’t chosen a topic yet, browse for ideas
through topics that have been widely covered. To
do this, click on Browse Issues.
From the drop-down menu,
choose a general category
or View All.
The topics that display
will range alphabetically
from Abortion to Zero
Tolerance Policies.

12. Next, let’s look at CQ Researcher
Every week, CQ Researcher publishes a lengthy
report on a topic of contemporary interest.

13. Type your topic into the “quick search” box, then GO.

14. Your “search results” will include any reports
specifically about your topic.
Click on the blue report title to read its contents.

15. Reports are organized into segments:
• Introduction
• Overview
• Background
• Etc.
• Etc.
• Etc.
Read the entire
report, or go
directly to a
segment.

16. Next (and last in this lesson):
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier is a good place to start no
matter what your subject is. It is an EBSCO database.
The Palomar College Library subscribes to many
EBSCO databases. They all work the same.

17. Like Opposing Viewpoints and CQ Researcher, start by
typing your topic into the box. You may also wish to focus
your search by selecting options from the list under “Limit
your results.”

18. • Check the Full Text box to insure that each of
your search results will be linked to the whole
article (not just some basic information about the
article).
• Check the Scholarly Journal box if your professor
requires you to use “scholarly sources.”
• Type the name of a publication to find only
articles published that particular one.
• Limit by date if you are required to find material
within a certain time range.

19. The results are a list of articles published on your topic.
Click the blue title of the article for a more detailed record.

20. Read the Abstract for a quick summary of the article. Click
the Full Text link to read the whole article.

21. As you begin to explore these three databases and
others, you will discover features that allow you to:
• Refine and focus your search
• Organize your results
• Print and email your results
• Create citations for the sources you decide to use.
The more you use the databases, the
more skillful you’ll become!

22. RECAP
Use the online research databases to find articles in:
•Magazines
•Newspapers
•Academic (scholarly) journals
Practice using these general-use databases:
•Opposing Viewpoints
•CQ Researcher
•Academic Search Premier
NOW YOU DO IT! Please proceed to Test
#2.