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What is EBSCOHost?

EBSCOHost is one of WelTec's main online database providers, and is a great tool to use for your research as it offers access to a variety of popular databases, ranging from general reference collections to specially designed, subject-specific databases for public, academic and school libraries.

What are Online Databases?

An online database is a searchable, electronic collection of full text documents or citations and abstracts. 

Online databases bring together :

• Journal and newspaper titles and articles
• Book reviews
• Research findings and conference proceedings
• Selected reference sources (e.g.: Encyclopaedias, Dictionaries).

Some databases are free of charge, but most require their users to pay a subscription fee.
WelTec provides students with unlimited, free access to a number of key databases.

Below is a list of terms you will find when using databases:

Why Use Online Databases?

One of the best features of online databases is that they bring together in one searchable form, thousands of Journals and related articles on a subject or topic to help you with your research.

Journal articles are great to use in your research because they:

• Provide you with information that is current and up-to-date
• Generally reflect the latest trends/thinking in an area
• Often focus on a specific subject
• May have been evaluated by a panel of experts (i.e. peer reviewed)

Logging On to EbscoHost

To go to EBSCOHost's homepage, either go through our database page, or use the following quick search box, to search all Ebsco databases at once. Type keywords into the search box, hit enter, and a new screen with your results will appear.

Which Database Should I Search?

WelTec subscribes to 22 databases within EBSCOhost. If you go through the Ebscohost search box, you will search all databases at once. Once on the results page, you can redefine your search if you wish to omit certain databases. See top of results screeen Choose Databases tab. Then tick or untick which databases you wish to search and redo the search.

To select which databases you would like to search (and you can choose more than one):

• Click on the small tick box found next to the name of the database you wish to search
• It is a good idea to select multiple databases to search at once (i.e. tick many) as this will give you the widest search options. You can also select to search across all at once. Not all of them will be relevant to what you are researching, so choose carefully. Read the description of what is contained in each database to help you decide.
• Click on the "Continue" button which can be found at the very top and bottom of the list of databases

After you have chosen your databases, the basic search screen automatically appears.

Basic Searching

The default search screen is the Basic Search. EBSCOHost searching works by using keywords:

• Type your keywords into the "Search" textbox
• Click on the "Search" button
• EBSCOHost will carry out your search and hopefully bring you back a list of results.
• All search results are presented in order of date, with the latest material coming first. If you want something current, you don't need to look through the entire list of results.

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Search Tips for Using EBSCOHost

Boolean Operators

Work by combining your keywords in such a way as to help you narrow down or expand your search. The key operators used are normally AND, OR and NOT.

Stay Broad
In the beginning, try and keep your search terms as broad as possible and then narrow down. You will often find alternative terms to search for by looking at the search results.

Phrasing
Sometimes you may want to search for a specific phrase or combination of words. Do this by enclosing keywords in "quotation marks". This is a great way to search if you are looking for information on a particular person or term e.g.: "genetic engineering"

Note: Put words in the order you want them found, with exact spelling.

Entering Keywords
When entering your keywords, don't worry about punctuation or capitals as EBSCOHost will ignore them.

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Hints for Choosing Keywords

To get the most relevant results when searching EBSCOHost, try and keep the following hints in mind when choosing keywords.

Search Options

Underneath the "Search" window there are different options to limit or expand your search. To do this:

• Enter your keywords in the "Search" window
• Select Search Options.
• An expanded window will appear:

You can limit your search to find articles which are:

• Full Text only - i.e. only return a result if the article is attached for you to read.
• Within a chosen publication - for example you may have read an article about the US sharemarket in Time magazine. You can limit you search to look for your keywords only in that particular magazine.
• Recent. Limit dates e.g. I only want to find articles on a subject from Jan 2003 - June 2008.

You can expand your results by selecting to search for the keywords:

• Within the actual text of the articles
• By searching for related words. For example: teenager, adolescent, young adult.

Advanced Search

By clicking on Advanced Search, you will get 3 keyword search windows and 3 select a field windows, which means you can specify which field you use to search for each keyword. For example we want to find articles on genetic engineering and crops, by the author "Moeller" and also anything to do with New Zealand. By selecting the field drop down menu you can search for multiple keywords in either All text, Author, Title, Subject Terms, Journal name, etc.

More Search tips

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.

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.

Viewing Your Results

For each article found, EBSCOHost displays brief details listing:

• The title and author of the article
• Name of the magazine it was featured in, with the date the magazine was published, volume, issue and page numbers the article was found on
• If you see the phrase HTML Full Text or PDF Full Text at the bottom of a record, this means that the article will be attached for you to read. If it says Abstract Only, then you will not be able to read the full article. Contact a librarian to find out how we can source the full text article for you.

Click on the title of the article highlighted and underlined in blue to look at the full record. This should include:

• A list of subject headings and a brief abstract, which will describe and outline what the article is about.
• By clicking on the relevant subject terms link, you will be led to other articles about the same topic.
• Look at the author to see if they have written anything else on a similar topic.

  

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Printing, E-mailing and Saving

To print, email or save an article, click on the appropriate icon top right of the record:

To print an article:

Click Print. Accept the defaults and click Print. The article is displayed in your browser window. Click the Print icon on the browser toolbar.

To return to the article or citation, click Back.

Advanced Features:

• If you are in the folder, Remove these items from folder after printing appears. Indicate whether you want to empty the folder of all items after printing.
• Include when printing - If you do not make any selections in this area, the defaults will apply. The Detailed Citation and Abstract (plus any available HTML Full Text) will be printed.
• HTML Full Text (when available) – Indicate whether the HTML Full Text of the article (if available) should be included.
• Current Search History (when available) – Indicate whether the current search history should be printed with your Result List Items. (Note: It is possible that the current search history and the Result List Items may not match. If your folder contains items from a previous session, or if you’ve edited or cleared search history without clearing your folder, you may receive both current search history and earlier folder results.)
• Standard Field Format - Most users will choose the default - "Detailed Citation and Abstract." You can also select from the drop-down list:
  Brief Citation – Indicates that only a brief citation should be printed.
  Brief Citation and Abstract – Indicates that a brief citation and an abstract should be printed.
  Detailed Citation and Abstract – Indicates that a detailed citation and an abstract should be printed.
• Citation Format - WelTec has set the default citation format to:
  APA - American Psychological Association

To print PDF Full Text:

To print an item in PDF Full Text format, you must use the Adobe Reader Print option. When viewing the PDF document in your browser window, the Adobe Print option (a printer icon) is included on the Adobe Reader toolbar located above the article. Note that if the item includes a citation and/or HTML text, they will print from the browser window.

To print Linked Full Text:

If you are printing an article that includes Linked Full Text, you must follow the links directly to the Full Text and then print.
If the article includes a citation and/or HTML Full Text, they will print from the browser window, but you will still need to follow the links directly to the Full Text and then print.

To e-mail an article:

From the article, click E-mail. Enter the E-mail Address. To send to more than one e-mail address, use a semicolon between each e-mail address. (For example, name1@address.com; name2@address2.com).

To send the e-mail, click Send; otherwise, click Back. A message appears when your e-mail has been sent.

Advanced Features:

• Subject - enter a subject to appear on the e-mail subject line. (For example, Results of research on topic ABC.) (40 character maximum.)
• Comments - enter any comments you would like to include with your e-mail.
• Format – Select whether you want to send the e-mail in Rich Text or Plain Text format.
• If you are in the folder, Remove these items from folder after e-mailing appears. Indicate whether you want to empty the folder of all items after e-mailing.
• Include when sending - If you do not make any selections in this area, the defaults will apply.
• The Detailed Citation - in default APA referencing format and Abstract (plus any available HTML Full Text and PDF Full Text) will be sent. Persistent links to articles are automatically included in the e-mail.
• HTML Full Text (when available) – Include the HTML Full Text of the article, if available.
• PDF as a separate attachment (when available) – Include all citation information and the article in Adobe PDF format, if available.
• Standard Field Format - Most users will choose the default - "Detailed Citation and Abstract." You can also select from the drop-down list:
  Brief Citation – Indicates that only a brief citation should be e-mailed.
  Brief Citation and Abstract – Indicates that a brief citation and an abstract should be e-mailed.
  Detailed Citation and Abstract – Indicates that a detailed citation and abstract should be e-mailed.
• Citation Format - WelTec has set the default to the standard APA - American Psychological Association format
• Current Search History (when available) – Indicate whether the current search history should be e-mailed with your Result List Items. The history will be delivered as a separate HTML attachment. (Note: It is possible that the current search history and the Result List Items may not match. If your folder contains items from a previous session, or if you’ve edited or cleared search history without clearing your folder, you may receive both current search history and earlier folder results.)

To e-mail Linked Full Text:
If you are e-mailing an article that includes Linked Full Text, you must follow the links directly to the Full Text and then email it. Otherwise, only the citation and any available HTML Full Text will be sent. If you follow the links to the Full Text and it is PDF format, the PDF will be sent as an attachment to the e-mail.

To e-mail persistent links to searches:

• Click the Alert/Save/Share link to the left of your Result List.
• Click the Add search to folder link. The search query is now saved in the folder as a persistent link to a search.
• From the Persistent Links to Searches area of the folder, click the E-mail icon. The Links to Searches area of the E-mail Manager displays.
• Enter the E-mail Address. To send to more than one e-mail address, use a semicolon between each e-mail address. (For example, name1@address.com; name2@address2.com.)
• Enter a Subject to appear on the e-mail subject line. (For example, Results of research on topic ABC.) (40 character maximum.)
• Enter any Comments you would like to include with your e-mail.
• Click Send; otherwise, click Back. A message appears when your e-mail has been sent.

Saving

To save an article: From the article, click Save.

• To save the results, click Save; otherwise, click Back.
• From your browser menu, click File>Save As.
• Enter the path where the file should be saved (for example, H:ProjectResearchInfo).
• To save to disk, enter the path to the drive (for example, E:ResearchInfo). Be sure to save as an HTML or text file.
• Click Save. To return to the article, click Back.

Advanced Features:

• If you are in the folder, Remove these items from folder after saving appears. Indicate whether you want to empty the folder of all items after saving.
• Include when saving - If you do not make any selections in this area, the defaults will apply. The Detailed Citation and Abstract (plus any available HTML Full Text and HTML links to articles) will be saved.
• HTML Full Text – Indicate whether the HTML Full Text of the article (if available) should be included.
• HTML links to articles – Indicate whether HTML links to the articles you have selected should be included. (To save only the persistent links to the articles, clear the Additional citation details and abstract and the HTML Full Text check boxes and be sure to mark the HTML links to articles check box.)
• Standard Field Format - Most users will choose the default - "Detailed Citation and Abstract." You can also select from the drop-down list:
  Brief Citation – Indicates that only a brief citation should be saved.
  Brief Citation and Abstract – Indicates that a brief citation and an abstract should be saved.
  Detailed Citation and Abstract – Indicates that a detailed citation and an abstract should be saved.
• Citation Format - WelTec has set the default to APA - American Psychological Association format.

To save PDF Full Text:

• If you are saving an item that includes PDF Full Text, the PDF does not automatically save from your browser window. You must open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader, and use the Reader's save capability.
• If the item includes a citation and/or HTML Full Text, they will save from the browser window, but you will still need to open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader, and use the Reader's save capability.
  

To save Linked Full Text:

• If you are saving an item that includes Linked Full Text, you must follow the links directly to the Full Text, and then save it.
• If the item includes a citation and/or HTML Full Text, they will save from the browser window, but you will still need to follow the links directly to the Full Text, and then save it.

To copy a persistent link to a search:

• Click the Alert/Save/Share link to the left of your Result List.
• Highlight the link text in the Permalink box and copy using your browser's copy function. You can immediately paste the link into a web site, document or e-mail.

To save persistent links to searches to the folder:

• Click the Alert/Save/Share link to the left of your Result List.
• Click the Add search to folder link. The search query is now saved in the folder as a persistent link to a search.
• From the persistent links to searches area of the folder, click Save to Disk. The Links to Searches area of the Save Manager displays.
• If you are in the folder, Remove these items from folder after saving appears. Indicate whether you want to empty the folder of all items after saving.
• Click Save; otherwise, click Back.
• From your browser menu, click File>Save As. Enter the path where the file should be saved (for example, H:ProjectResearchInfo). To save to disk, enter the path to the drive (for example, E:ResearchInfo). Be sure to save as an HTML or text file.

To add articles to the folder:

• Click Add to folder.  If you create an account (see further below), these will be saved permanently in your folder.

Citing and APA referencing with EBSCOhost

WelTec’s referencing standard is APA.  We have set EBSCOhost to save citations by default in the APA format.

From the article, click on the save icon. (You are not actually going to save the file, but by doing this you can bring up the full citation to copy and paste later into your Reference List.)                         

The following window will appear: 
Click Save:

The following window will appear: 

Copy the APA citation from here and paste it into your word document/assignment in the Reference
List on the last page of your assignment.  This citation includes the persistant URL link back to the actual article.  Delete the information you don’t need (i.e. the text in between the citation & the URL Links: <!--Additional Information: Persistent link to this record (Permalink): )

So it should look like this in your Reference List:

Hetrea,  C. (2008, September). Making the Most of the Future. Futurist, 42(5), 47-47.  Retrieved 
           September 1, 2008, from Academic Search Elite database:  http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&AN=33306325&site=ehost-live 

Setting Up Your Own Account

With EBSCOHost you can set up a personal account which allows you to: Save (Add) articles, search results, persistent links to searches, saved searches, journal alerts and web pages to your personal folder.

To set up a personal account:

• Click the Sign In to My EBSCOhost link. You can find this on the right top blue tool bar on your screen.

The Sign In Screen will then appear.

• Click on the I'm a new user link, which is the first option you can select, just below the "Sign In" folder.

The Create a New Account Screen appears.

• Fill in all the fields on this screen.
• When you have completed this, click Continue.
• If all the information is entered correctly a message will appear that provides your user name and password. Click OK .

You will then be automatically logged in as a personal user.

You should note down the user name and password you created so you can log in at a future session. A good idea is to use the Username and Password you use to logon at WelTec so that you don't forget it!

Once you have created your account, you will now be able to save items and searches into your folder to be accessed the next time you login to EBSCOhost. If you don't create an account, items you store in the folder will disappear. Your EBSCOhost username and password is only applicable within EBSCOhost. It is not the same as the generic off campus password and login which gets you into the EBSCOhost network. (Once you are inside the EBSCOhost network by using the generic username and password supplied by the WelTec librarian, you then must login to your account in EBSCO using the username and password you create in My account.)

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