EBSCOhost Research Databases

EBSCOhost is a powerful online reference system accessible via the Internet. It offers a variety of proprietary full text databases and popular databases from leading information providers.

The comprehensive databases range from general reference collections to specially designed, subject-specific databases for public, academic, medical, corporate and school libraries.

Basic Search

To create a Basic Search:

1. On the Basic Search Screen, enter your search terms in the Find field.

2. If you want to use any of the optional Limiters or Expanders, click the Search Options link.

   

3. You can use a specific search mode, such as“Find all of my search terms,” or “SmartText Searching”; apply Limiters such as Full Text or Publication type; or use search options that expand your search, such as “Apply related words.” 

4. To close the Search Options, click the link again.

5. Click the Search button. The Result List displays.

   

The search field is displayed above the Result List. Your search terms, limiters and expanders are retained.  To revise your search, you can click the Search Options link under Limit your results.

Search Tips

Boolean Operators

And - combines search terms so that each search result contains all of the terms. For example, education and technology finds articles that contain both terms.

Or - combines search terms so that each search result contains at least one of the terms. For example, education or technology finds results that contain either term.

Not - excludes terms so that each search result does not contain any of the terms that follow it. For example, education not technology finds results that contain
the term education but not the term technology.

Wildcard (?) and Truncation (*) Symbols

Use the wildcard and truncation symbols to create searches where there are unknown characters, multiple spellings or various endings. Neither the wildcard nor the truncation symbol can be used as the first character in a search term.

The wildcard is represented by a question mark (?). To use the wildcard, enter your search terms and replace each unknown character with a ?. EBSCOhost finds all citations of that word with the ? replaced by a letter.

For example, type ne?t to find all citations containing neat, nest or next. EBSCOhost does not find net because the wildcard replaces a single character.

Truncation is represented by an asterisk (*). To use truncation, enter the root of a search term and replace the ending with an *. EBSCOhost finds all forms of that
word.

For example, type comput* to find the words computer or computing.

Proximity

You can use a proximity search to search for two or more words that occur within a specified number of words (or fewer) of each other in the databases. Proximity searching is used with a keyword or Boolean search.

The proximity operators are composed of a letter (N or W) and a number (to specify the number of words). The proximity operator is placed between the words that are to be searched, as follows:

Near Operator (N) - N5 finds the words if they are within five words of one another regardless of the order in which they appear.

For example, type tax N5 reform to find results that would match tax reform as well as reform of income tax.

Within Operator (W) - In the following example, W8 finds the words if they are within eight words of one another and in the order in which you entered them.

For example, type tax W8 reform to find results that would match tax reform but would not match reform of income tax.

Grouping Terms Together Using Parentheses

Parentheses also may be used to control a search query. Without parentheses, a search is executed from left to right. Words that you enclose in parentheses are searched first. Why is this important? Parentheses allow you to control and define the way the search will be executed. The left phrase in parentheses is searched first; then, based upon those results, the second phrase in parentheses is searched.

Generalized Search: dog or cat and show or parade

Focused Search: (dog or cat) and (show or parade)

In the first example, the search will retrieve everything on dog or cat shows as well as everything on parades, whether or not the articles refer to dogs or cats.

In the second example, we have used the parentheses to control our query to only find articles about shows or parades that reference dogs or cats.

Using Quotation Marks

Typically, when a phrase is enclosed by double quotations marks, the exact phrase is searched. This is not true of phrases containing stop words. A stop word will never be searched for in an EBSCOhost database, even if it is enclosed in double quotation marks. A search query with stop words only (i.e. no other terms) yields no results.

Limiters and Expanders

You can also select any limiters or expanders available on the Refine Search sub-tab.When you have entered your search terms and selected any search options, click Search. Your search results are displayed. To print, e-mail or save several search results, you should add them to the folder.

Your library administrator selects which search modes and search options are displayed.

Special Limiters

If you are searching more than one database, on the Refine Search sub-tab the limiters common to the databases appear under the Limit your results heading. If you select any of the common limiters, they are applied to all databases you are searching. A limiter will appear in the common limiters section only if it is available in all the databases you selected. If a limiter is available in three of four databases you selected, it will be displayed in the special limiters section of those three databases.

The database-specific limiters appear under the heading Special limiters for: Database Name. (e.g., Special limiters for: Academic Search Premier) If you select a special limiter, it is applied only to the database under which it appears. For example, you might select the Publication type limiter below Academic Search Premier, and need to select it again below Newspaper Source.

Advanced Search-Guided

To use Advanced Search with Guided-Style Fields:

1. Click the Advanced Search link below the Find field.

2. On the Advanced Search Screen, enter your search terms in the first Find field.

   

3. Choose the search field from the optional Select a Field drop-down list (for example, search in only the Subject Terms field of the citation).

4. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the second set of Find fields.

5. Select a Boolean operator (AND, OR, NOT) to combine the two Find field entries.

6. You can enter another Boolean operator, keyword, and search field in the third set of fields.

7. If you need additional rows, click the Add Row link. Up to 12 rows can be displayed. To delete a row, click the Remove Row link.

8. Select from the available Search Options:

   • Search modes – Use specific search modes, such as “Find all of my search terms,” or “SmartText Searching,” or use search options that expand your search such as “Apply related words.”

   • Limit your results – such as Full Text or Publication type.

   • Special Limiters – Apply limiters specific to a database. If you select a special limiter, it is applied only to the database under which it appears

9. Click the Search button. The Result List displays.  

   

Search Tips

Boolean Operators

And - combines search terms so that each search result contains all of the terms. For example, education and technology finds articles that contain both terms.

Or - combines search terms so that each search result contains at least one of the terms. For example, education or technology finds results that contain either term.

Not - excludes terms so that each search result does not contain any of the terms that follow it. For example, education not technology finds results that contain the term education but not the term technology. 

Wildcard (?) and Truncation (*) Symbols

Use the wildcard and truncation symbols to create searches where there are unknown characters, multiple spellings or various endings. Neither the wildcard nor the truncation symbol can be used as the first character in a search term.

The wildcard is represented by a question mark (?). To use the wildcard, enter your search terms and replace each unknown character with a ?. EBSCOhost finds all citations of that word with the ? replaced by a letter.

For example, type ne?t to find all citations containing neat, nest or next. EBSCOhost does not find net because the wildcard replaces a single character.

Truncation is represented by an asterisk (*). To use truncation, enter the root of a search term and replace the ending with an *. EBSCOhost finds all forms of that
word.

For example, type comput* to find the words computer or computing.

Proximity

You can use a proximity search to search for two or more words that occur within a specified number of words (or fewer) of each other in the databases. Proximity searching is used with a keyword or Boolean search.

The proximity operators are composed of a letter (N or W) and a number (to specify the number of words). The proximity operator is placed between the words that are to be searched, as follows:

Near Operator (N) - N5 finds the words if they are within five words of one another regardless of the order in which they appear.

For example, type tax N5 reform to find results that would match tax reform as well as reform of income tax.

Within Operator (W) - In the following example, W8 finds the words if they are within eight words of one another and in the order in which you entered them.

For example, type tax W8 reform to find results that would match tax reform but would not match reform of income tax. 

Grouping Terms Together Using Parentheses

Parentheses also may be used to control a search query. Without parentheses, a search is executed from left to right. Words that you enclose in parentheses are searched first. Why is this important? Parentheses allow you to control and define the way the search will be executed. The left phrase in parentheses is searched first; then, based upon those results, the second phrase in parentheses is searched.

Generalized Search: dog or cat and show or parade

Focused Search: (dog or cat) and (show or parade)

In the first example, the search will retrieve everything on dogs, as well as cat shows as well as everything on parades.

In the second example, we have used the parentheses to control our query to only find articles about shows or parades that reference dogs or cats. 

Using Quotation Marks

Typically, when a phrase is enclosed by double quotations marks, the exact phrase is searched. This is not true of phrases containing stop words. A stop word will never be searched for in an EBSCOhost database, even if it is enclosed in double quotation marks. A search query with stop words only (i.e. no other terms) yields no results.

Limiters and Expanders

You can also select any limiters or expanders available on the Refine Search sub-tab.When you have entered your search terms and selected any search options, click Search.Your search results are displayed. To print, e-mail or save several search results, you should add them to the folder.

Your library administrator selects which search modes and search options are displayed. 

Special Limiters

If you are searching more than one database, on the Refine Search sub-tab the limiters common to the databases appear under the Limit your results heading. If you select any of the common limiters, they are applied to all databases you are searching. A limiter will appear in the common limiters section only if it is available in all the databases you selected. If a limiter is available in three of four databases you selected, it will be displayed in the special limiters section of those three databases.

The database-specific limiters appear under the heading Special limiters for: Database Name. (e.g., Special limiters for: Academic Search Premier) If you select a special limiter, it is applied only to the database under which it appears. For example, you might select the Publication type limiter below Academic Search Premier, and need to select it again below Newspaper Source.  

Suggest Subject Terms

Some databases offer the Suggest subject terms search feature on Advanced Search. For a single database, you can enter search terms and mark the Suggest subject terms check box. When you click Search, the corresponding thesaurus is searched and the most appropriate terms are displayed. If you search using only limiters, "Suggest" is ignored. If you conduct a fielded search at the command line (e.g., AU Smith) “Suggest” is ignored. 

Visual Search

If a Visual Search tab appears, you can also search EBSCOhost and have your results presented in an interactive, visual map. You can change the style of the Result List at any time by selecting either Block style or Column style from the Display Style menu.

Columns Style Result List

To conduct a visual search:

1. Click the Visual Search link below the Find field on the EBSCOhost screen.

   

2. Enter your search terms in the Find field.

3. Click Search. Your search results are displayed in columns. To follow a path, click on the subject (or publication) name. Your results are narrowed even further.

   

4. Results Sorting Options - To see different ways to group, sort, or filter your search, click any of the buttons above the Result List. You can select these options at any time – before you run your search, or after, when you are viewing your results. 

• Group Results – You can group by Subject or by Publication Name.

• Sort Results – You can sort the results by Date (newest to oldest), or by Relevance (articles with the greatest relevance at the top of the list; those with the least relevance at the bottom of the list). 

• Filter Results by Date – Move the Date Range slider to filter from the newest articles to the oldest. 

• Display Style – Switch between the Blocks or Columns view at any time.

To preview an article:

1. To view the citation, click the article title inside the result. The Summary window displays more information about the article, including Title, Author, Journal Name, and a brief abstract. 

   

2. To view the full text of the article (if available), click the More link at the bottom of the citation. The Summary window will expand to display the full article. 
    

To collect articles:

 Use the Collect Articles area to "drag-and-drop" articles that you are interested in. Items that you "collect" will remain there for the current session, unless you remove them. You will need to collect the items that you want to save to your folder.

To save items to your folder:

1. With your Result List displayed, drag the articles to the Collect Articles area.

   

2. Click the Add to Folder link. The items are immediately added to your "session" folder.

3. If you want to save the items for use in a future session, be sure to sign into your My EBSCOhost account.

Block Style Result List

If you select a Display Style of Blocks,  the "block-style" Result List will display.

The Block Style Result List has two additional features - the control arrows, and the Results Map. To follow a path, use the control arrows on the left-hand side of the screen. Or, click in a new block within the Results Map to move to a different area of the Result List.

Note: Your library administrator decides whether Visual Search will be available, and which style (blocks or columns) will be the default.