WHAT IS IT?

Ebsco is an internet-based collection of many academic databases that is available to Davis College students, faculty and staff.

HOW DO I USE IT?

Click on the SEARCH option from the library web page. Then find EBSCOHOST in the Find Articles section.

Step 1--Choosing EBSCO services

There are 3 different types of search services that can be used:

EBSCOhost Web - This can be used in both English and Spanish (recommended)

EBSCOhost Text-Only - This is good for computers that do not support a lot of graphics, but it does not allow access to all databases

Searchasaurus - This service is designed specifically for children, and is not recommended for college research

--Click once on the service you want to use. This will take you to the next step (top)

Step 2--Choosing Databases

There are many databases that can be selected that cover many subjects. Some provide full-text access to journal articles (PDF or HTML), while others give only abstract summaries or references to them. The descriptions for each database will most likely tell you what you need to know about them, and whether it is one that you should use. The image below is an example of two of the many databases, as they would appear on the screen. To select them, click on the small square at the left side. When you have selected the ones you want, click on the “Continue” Box, which will take you to the next step (top)

For any kind of college discipline search, it is recommended that you at least check the Academic Search Elite database, as this represents a comprehensive undergraduate level database.

Step 3 – Search Strategies

The next step involves using the tools EBSCO has provided to find exactly what you want in the databases you have selected. There are 3 parts to the final search screen (see image on the other side):

1. The “Find” (subject) box in which you type the words that most closely match the

subject that you which to research.

2. Tools that help you limit the number of items that may appear as a result of your search. These help you weed out all the unnecessary information, and center in on what you really want. The most important of these allow you to select only full-text articles from scholarly or peer-reviewed journals (see handout on periodicals)

3. Tools that help you expand the number of items that may appear as a result of your search. These are helpful if you have already centered in on what you want, but want to view a few more sources than are presented in your earlier searches. (top)

Step 4 – Using what you find

After you entered a subject, chose how to limit or expand your search and clicked on the search button, you should have been given a list of articles to view. Clicking on the title of a specific article will give you a summary of it, and several tools that can be used with it.

Below is an image that shows what tools may be available to use a particular article. “Refine Search” is helpful to use if you are not sure you have what you want, or if you have too few or too many results. It will return you to the original search page and allow you to choose other options. Full-text articles may be available in both HTML and PDF formats, though some in just one of these.

There are three tools to use if you wish to view the item at a future time. If there is a printer available where you are, you may choose to print the article. If there are none available, you may also choose to save it on a floppy disk. Please do not save it on the computer unless it is your own.

The last option is to e-mail the article to your address for later viewing. This is useful if there is no printer where you performed your search, but there is one at another computer where you can check your e-mail.

It will help to save paper by choosing to either save it or e-mail it. This will allow you to copy and paste quotes directly into your document. Please be careful to cite each article in your document to avoid unlawful plagiarism (top)

How do I cite an article I used from EBSCO in an MLA formatted research paper?

This is very important to know, especially if you do not have access to an MLA handbook when writing your paper. Citing online sources in the “works cited” page of your paper is different from sources you may have found in print. Fortunately, EBSCO has a very useful section on “Citing Sources” in the Help index, which is found in the top right corner of the screen. This includes information on not only MLA format, but also APA and Turabian.

Also see the Instruction and Tutorial page of the library website that includes links for MLA formatting.

(top)