Click here to go to a slide show presentation of this tutorial.

EBSCOhost? is an online gateway affording access to a variety of full text databases. This database collection is one of the services provided through the Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL). KYVL is a consortium of libraries in the state of Kentucky. One of the missions of the KYVL is to provide Kentuckians with "equitable access to quality library and information resources."

Databases that can be found within EBSCOhost?  include: Academic Search Premier?, Business Source Premier?, ERIC?, Health Source?, MasterFILE Premier?, MAS Ultra?, Newspaper Source?, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection?, Religion and Philosophy Collection?, the Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia?, and other databases.

Many of these databases provide full text articles and other information on a variety of topics.

To access the EBSCOhost? databases:

1. Go to the Sullivan University Library web page http://library.sullivan.edu
2. Place the mouse cursor on the DATABASES tab at the top of the page. A drop-down menu will appear. Scroll down to ON CAMPUS ACCESS.
3. Scroll down to EBSCOhost?.
4. Click on SEARCH to enter the EBSCOhost? RESEARCH DATABASES page.
5. Click on EBSCOhost? Web to access EBSCOhost?. NOTE: The EBSCOhost? interface is also available in Spanish, French, and German by clicking on the appropriate link.
6. The EBSCOhost? DATABASE SELECTION screen will appear.

(NOTE: If you are accessing EBSCOhost? remotely (off-campus), click on the OFF CAMPUS ACCESS-- found under the DATABASES tab. Follow the directions to access the databases remotely (off-campus). Your Sullivan USER ID and PASSWORD will be needed).

Selecting a Database or Database Group:

From the EBSCOhost? Database Screen you can:

1. Select an individual database to search.

• To select one database, click on the name of the database.

2. Choose more than one database to search.

• Scroll down the database list and click in the box next to the databases that you want to search to place a checkmark in the box.
• Click the CONTINUE button.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using a multiple database search.

• One advantage is that you may save time in searching.
• A disadvantage is that the results take a longer time to appear.
• Another disadvantage is that you may not be able to do a Subject or Publication search while searching multiple databases.

Descriptions of Databases:

Database descriptions can be found by:

• Clicking the More Information link found under each databases on the Database List.
• Once you are in a database search, you can click the DATABASE HELP link under the Database Name (found at the top of the search) to obtain a detailed description of the database.

Maneuvering Through EBSCOhost?:

Once you have chosen a database (or multiple databases), you will find hyperlinks, tabs, and buttons at the top of the screen (these will vary depending on the database: tabs are "grayed out" and buttons are not available if they are not an option for a particular database). You can  perform various searches or maneuver through EBSCOhost? by clicking on a hyperlink, button, or tab.

The Hyperlinks include:

• New Search: This link returns you to a search screen for the database(s) that you have chosen.

• View Folder: You can save the results of your searches to a folder. These searches can be reviewed by clicking the View Folder link.

• Preferences: This link allows you to format the display of your search. You can choose to display results in groups of 5, 10, or more. You can also choose whether you want brief or detailed records in the displayed results.

• Help: This link takes you to helpful information about EBSCOhost?.

The Tabs include:

• Basic Search: This search is the default when a database is first opened. Click here to go to more details about a basic search.

• Advanced Search: This option allows you to perform a more complicated search using field codes, search histories, and limiters. Click here to go to more details about a basic search.

• Choose Databases: This tab brings you back to the Database Selection screen.

• Select Another EBSCO? Service: This tab allows you to exit EBSCOhost? and go to the main EBSCO? page, which offers other EBSCO? services and databases, such as:
  • Searchasaurus?: A colorful interface containing databases of use to primary and middle school students.
  • The EBSCOhost? Web database screens in German, French, and Spanish. (NOTE: Results from searches performed with these database screens will be in the language in which the article was published, usually English).
  • NoveList?: A "reader advisory" database. Includes information about authors and titles.

The Buttons include:

• Keyword Search: This button allows you to perform a keyword search.

• Subjects Search: This button is not available if you are doing a multiple database search. The Subject Search button allows you to search for a topic by using subject words.
  • By clicking on the Subject Search button, a subject search screen will appear.
  • Type a word in the entry box and click the BROWSE button.
  • The Subject search will bring up a listing of articles or other publications that contain the subject word you were looking for (if available).
  • You can review the results by clicking the VIEW link.
  • Subdivisions and related terms can also be found with a Subject Search.

• Publications Search: This button is not available if you are searching multiple databases. The Publications Search button allows you to search for a particular publication.
  • When you click the Publications Search button, a search screen will appear.
  • Type in the name (all or part of the name) of the publication that you are searching for.
  • Click the BROWSE button.
  • The results screen will appear. Click on the title of the journal to bring up a description of the publication along with links to issues of the publication.
  • Click on a selected issue link to bring up citations, abstracts, and/or full text articles.

• Company Profiles: This button can be found in the Business Source Premier database. This can be used to locate information about various companies.

• Images: This button can be used to search for photographic images.

• Dictionaries: Several databases provide access to an online dictionary.

Searching the EBSCOhost? Databases:

Basic Search:

Once you click on a database name, you will be taken to the Basic Search screen. This is the default screen for EBSCOhost?. Notice that the Basic Search tab is highlighted in green. (The tabs and buttons for various types of searches are located above the search entry box).

Within the Basic Search screen, you can perform a Keyword search or click on the Subjects, Publications, or Images button to go to a different type of search. The default is the Keyword search.

The search word(s), also known as keyword(s), are typed in the entry box and the SEARCH button is clicked. The database searches articles and publications for any instance in which the search word(s) appear.

Boolean Operators can be used with two or more keywords:

• The Boolean operators and, or, or not can be used to combine two or more keywords.
  • AND: When AND is used, all the search terms must appear in the results of the search.
  • OR: When OR is used, any or all of the search terms can appear in the results of the search.
  • NOT: When NOT is used, all the records must contain the first term, but cannot contain the second search term.

Your search can also be limited (narrowed) or expanded (broadened) by using the features below the search entry box. You may be able to limit: by full text, by magazine, or by date. You can expand your search by: searching for related words and searching within full text articles.

Advanced Search:

To perform an  Advanced Search, click on the Advanced Search tab at the top of the screen (it will be blue in color. After you click it, the Advanced Search tab will be highlighted in green). The Advanced Search screen will appear.

Advanced searching allows you to enter a search using keywords, the search history, limiters, and field codes. (Go to the EBSCOhost?  HELP screen for further information).

• Limiters include items such as: full text, dates, scholarly (peer reviewed) publications, the number of pages, images, and other items.
• Field codes are two-letter codes for fields such as: author (au), journal name (so), subject (su), and article title (ti).

You can also click on the Subjects, Publications,  Images or other buttons to go to a different type of search.

Refining a Search:

A search can be refined by clicking on one of the results (an article or other source). The citation and other information about the article or source will appear. The Refine Search hyperlink will be at the top of the page. Click on the link to go to the Refine Search screen. Enter additional words, limiters, or expanders and click SEARCH.

Wildcards:

The asterisk (*) can be used to retrieve various endings of words. For example, child* can be used for "children," "childhood," "childish," etc.

The exclamation point (?) can be used to replace one letter in a word. For example, be?t can be used for "best," "beat," "belt," "beet," or "bent." 

Proximity Operators:

Two proximity operators are used with ESBCOhost?.

• W (With): This is used when the search words must be in a particular order and must be close together.
• N (Near): This is used when the search words must be close together but the word order does not matter.

The proximity operators are used in combination with a number to specify the number of words that can be between two keywords. For example, political N5 campaign signifies that "political" and "campaign" must be within 5 words of each other in any order.

Printing or E-mailing the results:

To print, e-mail or save your results, click the Print, E-mail, or Save links. You can then choose in which format you want to print, e-mail, or save: by article citation or full text (if available). Follow the instructions on how to print, e-mail, or save a particular item.

Conclusion:

There are other features of EBSCOhost? that have not discussed in this tutorial.

Log-on to EBSCOhost? for information and practice in using the databases. A HELP screen is available from the EBSCOhost? Web. If you have any further questions, please speak to your instructor or the library staff.

                                                                              Last Updated:  01/30/2008