Given the number of Databases available to you, you will want to select which database(s) you wish to work in.
Prior to taking this step, you may wish to note:
- *Have searches in the library catalog helped you to get any ideas for possible databases of interest?
- *Do you have some keywords identified for your search?
*If the answer to either of these is "no", you may find it helpful to consult "start researching with online resources"
To begin to identify database(s), consider:
- What type of information are you seeking?
- Are you looking for background information like you could find in an encyclopedia entry or with a biography?
- Are you looking for associated key words related to an idea such as you might find in a dictionary?
- Do you need newspaper articles or news sources?
- Do you need scholarly sources such as journal articles or books?
- How might your topic be categorized by "subject"? What class is your assignment for? Is your topic multidisciplinary?
- Also of note: Has your instructor specified database by name (e.g. Academic Search Ultimate) or by Provider (e.g. EBSCO host)?
Once you have an idea of what kind of information you will be searching for, and what subject(s) you are working in, you can move on to selecting a database or databases.
- Databases can be quite distinct from one another! Pay attention to the "description" of a database to ensure it aligns with your needs
- It is important to keep in mind that databases may "look" and operate differently from one another, too - keep an eye out for "about" or "help" or "search tip" tabs within a database
