NSCI 390: Find Articles / Databases

• Select where to search

• Break search into keywords - Include all your concepts, think of synonyms

• Search key terms using AND, OR

• Truncation * (nutr* finds nutrient, nutrition, etc.)  

• Use limiters (pub. year or type, etc.)

Link to the database listings created by a librarian for these subjects:

1. Check spelling
2. Check which field it is searching (topic, author, etc.)
3. Use less key words (get less specific)
4. Use more "OR's" (common name, synonyms)
5. Try another database

Getting too many results?

1. Add more concepts (get more specific)
2. Use more limiters (years, peer-reviewed only, etc.)

Google Scholar is a search engine that limits your Google results to things that "seem" scholarly.  In most cases this is fine, but just be aware that there is no human evaluation of these results, unlike the careful editing in the library databases.

When using Google Scholar at home, go to Scholar Preferences, library links, and search for and select CSULB.  Now in your search results you will have GetIt@CSULB links to access CSULB subscriptions for full-text articles.

To access these databases from off-campus, you will be asked to enter your Student ID and a library password.

1.  Full text in the database?

OR

2. Click

OR

3.  Search COAST (Lower Level or ORCA)

OR

4.  Not available at CSULB? Request through BeachReach