Using the EBSCOhostResearch Databases

ACCESS

EFFECTIVE SEARCHES

PRINT AND SAVE AND CITE

ACCESSING EBSCOHOST RESEARCH DATABASES FROM ANYWHERE

ACCESS

Step 1 – Navigate to EBSCO database.• Method 1

– On any computer at home or at school.– Go to search.ebscohost.com– Sign in: User ID: oakhallschool; Password: library.

• Method 2 – On any computer at home or at school.– Sign on to Edline. – Go to Library class page.– Click on EBSCO database link under Links.– Sign in: User ID: oakhallschool; Password: library. – If you choose Method 2, you also have easy access to several other links to

resources, such as the school library catalogue. • Method 3

– On any computer at home or at school.– Sign on to Edline.– Go to Library class page. – Click on Oak Hall Middle & Upper School Wiki.– Go to Ms. Poole’s Great Expectations Research Project page.– Click on EBSCO database link.– If you choose Method 3, you also have access to Ms. Poole’s links and the Project

Assignment, and this presentation.

• Sign on to Edline.• Go to My Classes & Shortcuts

Oak Hall Middle/Upper School Library.

• Check out the LINKS section of the Library page.

User ID: oakhallschoolPassword: Library

• Choose the database that’s best for you.• Lower School Searchasaurus• Middle School Student Research

Center• High School EBSCOhost Research

Databases or Student Research Center

TO SAVE YOUR RESULTS IN A FOLDER FOR LATER ACCESS

SET UP YOUR OWN ACCOUNT

• Before searching, set up a user name and password, so you can access your resources later.

Click on Create a New Account.

• Fill out the form fields to set up your account.

• Be certain that your user name and password are memorable.

• Write them down.

EFFECTIVE SEARCHES ON THE EBSCOHOST RESEARCH DATABASES

SEARCH

• Select the Databases suggested by your teacher or the librarian.

EFFECTIVE SEARCHING

EBSCO STUDENT RESEARCH CENTER

• Enter your search terms. • If you do not get the results you

want, try different search terms.• You can also use the Advanced

Search options.

• If you need to do an Advanced Search, this is what it looks like.

• Results!

• Refine (Narrow) your results to full text.

• You can also specify a publication date range.

• Update!

• You can also refine your results further, depending on the type of sources you want.

• Click on Resource Link.

• Here’s a good resource!• Look at your options to the

right!

• Print.

Saved articles.

• Bookmark.

WHAT ABOUT GOOGLE?

BUT WAIT!!!!!

Google Guide to Evaluating Resources• Sure Google is fast and returns tons of results, but not all

resources on Google are good ones.• Even Google admits this is true!• If you use Google, evaluate your results carefully. • Anyone can

– Create pages– Exchange ideas– Copy, falsify, or omit information intentionally or

accidentally• Many people publish pages to get you to buy something or

accept a point of view. Google makes no effort to discover or eliminate unreliable material.

• So be . It pays to be !

• Consider Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Currency, Coverage (AAOCC) when evaluating a website.

• All of the above applies to Wikipedia.http://www.googleguide.com/evaluating_results.html

• Authority Who are the authors? Are they qualified? Are they believable? With whom are they associated? Do their associates affect their

credibility? Who is the publisher? What is the publisher’s reputation?• Accuracy Is the information accurate? Is it reliable and error-free? Are the interpretations and conclusions reasonable? Is there evidence to support conclusions? Is the evidence verifiable? Do the authors properly list their sources, references or citations with

dates, page numbers or web addresses, etc.?• Objectivity What is the purpose? What do the authors want to accomplish? Does this purpose affect the presentation? Is there an implied or obvious bias? Is the information fact, opinion, a spoof (a joke), or a prank?• Currency Is the information current? Is it still valid? When was the site last updated? Is the site well-maintained? Are there any broken links?

• Coverage Is the information relevant to your topic and assignment? What is the intended audience? Is the material presented at an appropriate level? Is the information complete? Is it unique? www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENGI/eval_criteria.html