using infotrac databases jackson community college atkinson library

Using InfoTrac Using InfoTrac DatabasesDatabases

Jackson Community College Jackson Community College

Atkinson LibraryAtkinson Library


•InfoTrac is a group of InfoTrac is a group of databases. databases.

•The databases are The databases are subject- subject-

or age-group specific. or age-group specific. •Many contain full-text Many contain full-text

articles.articles.


Begin Begin your your

use of use of InfoTraInfoTrac on the c on the Library’Library’s home s home page.page.

Click here


There are 18

databases from

which to choose.Familiariz

e yourself with the

databases and their purposes.


…familiarize

yourself with the

databases and their purposes.


If needed, consult with a

Reference Librarian

for guidance

in choosing

databases.

How to Start How to Start Searching a Gale Searching a Gale Group Database Group Database

How to Start How to Start Searching a Gale Searching a Gale Group Database Group Database

Each database listed in the menu has the following features:

•A database name. •A date range.

•A short database description•A link labeled Start searching

•An icon, or picture, just to the left of the database name and description.

Searching a Gale Searching a Gale Group Database Group Database Once you have

selected a database, you

should familiarize

yourself with the features on

the screen.You can mouse over the items

on the left-hand menu to get a description of the function of

each link.

Searching a Gale Searching a Gale Group Database Group Database

Here’s how you

can search.


Subject Guide Search

Find articles by topic.

Journal Search Find all available articles in a specific issue of a journal or newspaper. The results list displays in page number order.

Advanced Search Find articles by using any of several indexes, alone or in combination.

Keyword Search Find articles by matching words in titles, citations, and abstracts, or in the entire text. The result list runs from newest to oldest.

Relevance Search Find articles by matching words in titles, citations, and abstracts, or in the entire text. The result list starts with the best matches according to how and where the words occur in articles.


Let’s do a sample Subject Guide

search in the

Expanded Academic

ASAP database.


Enter your topic in

the search box and click on Search.


You can limit your

search using the options

available.


Examine your results screen.

You have

several options.


Entries are displayed in groups, and in alphabetical order within each group. First are the entries in which your search word(s) comes first. Next are the entries in which your word(s) comes second, and so on.


To select a Subject Guide entry, click on its link:A main Subject Guide entry leads to a list of citations A subdivision link leads to another Subject Guide page with a list of specific aspects of the main entry A related subject link leads to another Subject Guide page with entries for the related subject.


Other items relevant to your search may be displayed.


Once you have performed a search,

you will see a Dictionary link in

the left-hand column. To look up a word on the screen, highlight the word, then click on the Dictionary link.

Searching a Gale Searching a Gale Group Database Group Database Highlight

the word, then click

on the Dictionary

link, and the word will be copied

automatically to the

dictionary entry

spaces. Then click

on OK.

Searching a Gale Searching a Gale Group Database Group Database The

definition

closest to the word you

chose will be

displayed.

Using the results of a Using the results of a search. search.

Let’s examine the results of the sample search.

Using the results of a Using the results of a search.search.

Results are

displayed with

the most

recent listed first.


Each entry

includes a link to

an article’s citation

information, or to full text.


The title of each item

links to the content of

the full record. A

record might include as little as a

brief citation or as much as full text

and graphics,

depending on the

collection you're

searching and the

rights that have been negotiated.


At the left, near the

beginning of the record, you'll see a Mark box.

Click on the box to save the record for later action.

Select the View mark list link in

the left-hand column any

time you want to see what's on your list.


Text links will take

you to the full text that is

available.Not all

articles are lengthy;

check the word count

for the lengths

that best suit your

need.


When you have

located an article that

meets your need, you have

options for working with that article.You can Print,

Email, or Retrieve a

PDF (document

pre-formatted)

.


Clicking on Print reformats your item

for printing.Use the

Back button to return to

the unformatt

ed screen.


Clicking on Email

or Retrieve

allows you to

email the text, or to print the article as

a PDF, formatted as in the original

publication.

Searching a Gale Searching a Gale Group Database.Group Database.

The Relevance search is a simple yet effective way to

search for articles. It looks for

words and word

variants, alone and

in combinatio

n. Relevance search is

most effective when two or more search

terms are entered.


To conduct a Relevance search: Click on the entry box Enter one or more words Click on Search

Boolean and logical operators (and, or, not) cannot be used in Relevance Search. Instead, use the following special characters to modify your search terms: Character Example of Use Search Result

Double quotes "civil war" Match civil war exactly

Plus sign +television Matching articles must contain the word television

Minus sign -headache Matching articles must not contain the word headache


Here is a sample Relevance search. The terms are formatted so that they match “stem cell” exactly but DO NOT include the term “research.”


Comparing these results with those from the previous example, the articles relating to “Research” are now absent from the results list.


Here is a sample

Keyword search in

Expanded Academic

ASAP.


Notice the size of the results list.

By using Keyword instead of Subject

searching, the number

of hits is greater but may be less

relevant.


Remember, a Keyword

search will find articles by matching

words in titles,

citations, and

abstracts, or in the entire

text. a Subject search will find articles

by topic.


Here is a sample

Advanced search in Expanded Academic

ASAP. It will find articles by using any

of several indexes,

alone or in combination.


This method of searching

offers the most options

and the greatest

flexibility in formatting

your search.


Choose Advanced search if you need to be very specific in stating your research question.

Searcher wants only the current year’s articles.

Searcher wants only this particular journal


You may use

Journal search

to search

the contents

of a magazin

e or journal.


Information about

the journal

you selected will be

displayed.


The most recent year

available is listed

first.Click on a year or an issue to begin searchin

g.


Your choices

are listed at the

top, and the

available contents are listed in page order.

Citing an article Citing an article from InfoTrac from InfoTrac

InfoTrac citations are not official bibliographic citations.

To cite an article from InfoTrac, use a standard style for notes and bibliography

entries.

The following are examples of two styles for the way citations from InfoTrac should appear in a

bibliography or a works cited page. Keep in mind that there are other styles. Also keep in mind that double spacing and underlining rather than italics

might both be preferred. Always check with your instructor for style

preferences.

Citing an article Citing an article from InfoTrac from InfoTrac

Whichever style is used, a citation from InfoTrac will generally contain

the following:author (if applicable)

title name of publication

publication information pages or indication of length

source (InfoTrac) Accession or article number if possible

download date

Citing an article from Citing an article from

InfoTracInfoTrac Modern Language Association (MLA) Style

Davidson, Paul. "Globalization." Journal of Post Keynesian Economics 24 (2002): 475+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale Group Databases. College of Staten Island Lib., NY.15 Apr. 2002 <http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com>."Ethiopia." Map. Rand McNally Maps. 1996. Student Edition. Gale Group Databases. Roosevelt High School Lib., Roosevelt, NY. 15 May 2002 <http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com>.Mauch II, Thomas H. "Researchers Identify Alzheimer's Enzyme Inhibitor." Los Angeles Times 13 Apr. 2000: B2. InfoTrac Custom Newspapers. Gale Group Databases. Mililani Public Lib., HI. 18 Apr. 2000.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Stroke: Hope Through Research. Pamphlet. May 1999. Health Reference Center Academic. Gale Group Databases. Laney College Lib., Oakland, CA. 18 Sep. 2001 <http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com>."Pennsylvania State Agencies Finalize Plan to Monitor for West Nile Virus." PR Newswire 7 Apr. 2000. InfoTrac OneFile Gale Group Databases. College of San Mateo Lib., CA. 18 June 2000 <http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com>.

See http://www.mla.org for further information and updates.

Citing an article from Citing an article from

InfoTracInfoTrac American Psychological Association (APA) Style

Battersby, John (1999, May 10). Nelson Mandela's Moral Legacy. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved November 21, 2001, from

InfoTrac Web InfoTrac OneFile CJ54593610.

Food Preservation (2000). The Columbia Encyclopedia (Edition 6) 13991. Retrieved February 14, 2002, from InfoTrac Web General

Reference Center Gold A69027426.

Gremillion, Kristen J. (1996). Early agricultural diet in North America: evidence from two Kentucky rock shelters. American

Antiquity, 61(3), 520. Retrieved March 17, 2002, from InfoTrac Web Expanded Academic ASAP. A19027669.

See the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association or http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html for further

information and updates.

Using Using Help filesHelp files in in InfoTrac InfoTrac

Help files are available from every screen in InfoTrac

The Help information given will be

relevant to the screen on

which you are working.

From any Help page, you can get

the complete Help Index.


As you work with InfoTrac, please contact As you work with InfoTrac, please contact a Reference Librarian if you would like a Reference Librarian if you would like

help or advice:help or advice:Atkinson Library, Walker Hall 1Atkinson Library, Walker Hall 1stst floor floor

Call 517-796-8622Call 517-796-8622Email Email [email protected]@jccmi.edu

Fax 517-796-8623Fax 517-796-8623

They are there to help you!They are there to help you!


Atkinson LibraryAtkinson Library

using infotrac databases jackson community college atkinson library

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