Searching a Database

General Step-by-step Instructions

Step-by-step

1. Enter GALILEO. Type the password in the "Home/Password" box. Find the database you want to search or choose a "Need Information Fast" database.

2. Click on the database's name. Start with a keyword search. Remember to think of synonyms you may want to include.

3. Use truncation and Boolean operators when constructing your search
1. Use OR to include synonyms: (capital punishment or death penalty)
2. Use AND to narrow your search: (capital punishment OR death penalty) AND racism
3. Use truncation to include multiple forms of a word (capital punishment OR death penalty) AND discriminat*



4. When you find an article that is relevant, look at the subject headings to see if there is another term used in the database to describe your topic.

For example — you may have used "African Americans" and the subject heading is "Blacks". By using the term used in the subject heading you will retrieve citations to articles that use either term.

5. Remember that in most databases you are only searching citations and abstracts, not the full text of the article.

6. Some databases let you search the subject headings directly. Look for a link to "Thesaurus", "Index" or "Subjects". These searches are more precise since the title and abstract are not being searched, just the subject headings describing what the article is about.

7. The results you get back for your search are citations to particular articles. Click on the citation for the full record, which will include the full citation, subject headings, and usually the abstract.

WANT MORE on developing a keyword search?
> Unit 2 > Starting Your Search

WANT MORE on truncation or Boolean searches?
>Unit 4 > Primer on Databases and Catalogs