ProQuest A Short Intro Paul Tremblay, Reference Librarian Paul Tremblay, Reference Librarian Reference Desk Reference Desk Paul Tremblay, Reference Librarian Paul Tremblay, Reference Librarian Reference Desk Reference Desk

What is ProQuest? Why Search ProQuest? ProQuest is an aggregator, a depository of, among other things, already published periodical articles. ProQuest is an aggregator, a depository of, among other things, already published periodical articles. ProQuest does not search the web like Google or Yahoo! do. ProQuest does not search the web like Google or Yahoo! do. It searches its own bank of articles (from newspapers, magazines, trade magazines, academic journals, etc) It searches its own bank of articles (from newspapers, magazines, trade magazines, academic journals, etc) ProQuest also indexes dissertations, book excerpts and others. For our purposes, we will limit ourselves to periodical articles, more specifically to academic publications. ProQuest also indexes dissertations, book excerpts and others. For our purposes, we will limit ourselves to periodical articles, more specifically to academic publications.

Preface Let’s pause to review a few key concepts, including keywords, truncation, Boolean operators… Let’s pause to review a few key concepts, including keywords, truncation, Boolean operators…

The quick guide… Keywords: words identifying the concepts of your research Keywords: words identifying the concepts of your research Boolean Operators: words combining the keywords Boolean Operators: words combining the keywords Truncations: a truncation mark is a symbol added to the stem (root) of a word in order to search all forms of the word Truncations: a truncation mark is a symbol added to the stem (root) of a word in order to search all forms of the word Citations: the basic information of a record (Author, title of the article, title of the periodical, date, page…) Citations: the basic information of a record (Author, title of the article, title of the periodical, date, page…) Abstract: a summary of the article (anything from 10 words to a few hundreds) Abstract: a summary of the article (anything from 10 words to a few hundreds)

Keywords are words or concepts extracted from your topic (subject of research) Keywords are words or concepts extracted from your topic (subject of research) They are unique and related to the field being investigated. They are unique and related to the field being investigated. Do not forget that you are dealing with a computer, not a human being! Do not write a full sentence, just words (including synonyms) unique to your topic. Do not forget that you are dealing with a computer, not a human being! Do not write a full sentence, just words (including synonyms) unique to your topic.

A Boolean Search is a computerized search using “operators” A Boolean Search is a computerized search using “operators” They are words by which search terms (keywords) are combined They are words by which search terms (keywords) are combined The operators may be used to expand or narrow a search The operators may be used to expand or narrow a search Most widely used are Most widely used are  OR  AND  NOT  (By default, Google will “and” your terms)

The truncation mark is usually an “*”, an asterisk. The truncation mark is usually an “*”, an asterisk. It tells the software that you wish to obtain ALL possible terminations. It tells the software that you wish to obtain ALL possible terminations. “Teen*” will retrieve “teen”, “teens”, “teenager”… It is compatible with all computerized search (online or CD). Google and other search engines recognize it “Teen*” will retrieve “teen”, “teens”, “teenager”… It is compatible with all computerized search (online or CD). Google and other search engines recognize it

EXAMPLE: TOPIC: The positive (or negative) effects of inclusion in children in high schools. TOPIC: The positive (or negative) effects of inclusion in children in high schools. Strategy: identify the concepts, here called KEYWORDS: Strategy: identify the concepts, here called KEYWORDS:  inclusion  children  High school  effects?

Now that we identified our “concepts” or “keywords”, let’s combine them with Operators. But what do Operators do? For instance, what is the difference between using “AND” and “OR”? AND AND  child* AND juvenile o All articles or records with BOTH terms in them (narrows the search) OR OR  Child* OR juvenile o All articles with EITHER or BOTH terms (broadens the search)

If I search for (Child* AND juvenile), the result should be all records with BOTH terms in them. However, (Child* OR juvenile) should yield ALL records: with Child alone, with Juvenile alone, and the records with both terms. C CJJ My results

In a nutshell… You input the terms or concepts you absolutely want to search You input the terms or concepts you absolutely want to search You combine them with AND (for instance: abortion AND teen) You combine them with AND (for instance: abortion AND teen) You use OR to combine alternative terminologies or analogous terms (Teen OR adolescent OR young adult) You use OR to combine alternative terminologies or analogous terms (Teen OR adolescent OR young adult)

When to use NOT You use NOT to exclude unwanted results You use NOT to exclude unwanted results For example, you are researching for records about Martin Luther, the religious reformer. For example, you are researching for records about Martin Luther, the religious reformer. However, chances are that you will end up with a lot of legitimate records about Martin Luther King. One of the strategies is to search for the following: However, chances are that you will end up with a lot of legitimate records about Martin Luther King. One of the strategies is to search for the following: Martin AND Luther NOT King Martin AND Luther NOT King

Enough about Boolean stuff! Let’s go back to our search here SEARCH inclusion AND high schools AND (child* OR juvenile) inclusion AND high schools AND (child* OR juvenile) The parenthesis strategy is called “nesting”. Usually a “guided” search will perform this for you automatically.

POP QUIZ! Before going any further: Why did we add an asterisk to “child”? Just testing your memory here… Just testing your memory here… Remember that the * asterisk is called a “truncation” mark. It tells the software that you wish to obtain ALL possible terminations of the root of a word. Remember that the * asterisk is called a “truncation” mark. It tells the software that you wish to obtain ALL possible terminations of the root of a word. In other words… In other words…

This is what “Child*” will search Child* Child* Child Children Childish

Let’s end the preface here… Let’s get down to dirty business! How do we access ProQuest? Let’s get down to dirty business! How do we access ProQuest?

To Access the Library Webpage 1. Go to the Westchester homepage ( 2. Click on “Library” (lower left-hand side). 3. Et voilà!

To access ProQuest… From this page, click on “Online Databases

From this page…click here

If you are on-campus, the system should take you to ProQuest. However, should you be off-campus (at home or at work), this window will open: Please type in your library barcode (no space)

Once in ProQuest, you will notice that the default page is “Basic Search”

Should you wish to work through a “guided” search, click on “Advanced Search”

You may move away from the “keyword” concept and evolve to a “subject” search

This is an important point: Some “terms” are more efficiently searched when you narrow down the field(s) being explored. For instance the keyword “education” will be searched as a word somewhere in a document. “Education” as a subject or topic will focus the search to documents whose topic is Education. Some “terms” are more efficiently searched when you narrow down the field(s) being explored. For instance the keyword “education” will be searched as a word somewhere in a document. “Education” as a subject or topic will focus the search to documents whose topic is Education.

Compare: Keyword: Education Results: Over 1,300,000 Subject: Education Results: Over 500,000

“Education” is not a thesis. You should add one or two more “terms” (as keywords or subject) For instance: Subject: “Education” AND Keyword: Utopia Results: 98

You may limit your results by checking the “Scholarly Journals, including Peer-Reviewed” box.

In retrospect: You typed in your search terms… You clicked on “Search”, now what…

You will be provided with a listing of “hits” or results. Read, evaluate. Now how do you obtain the article? Two options: 1. Just click on “Full-Text” or PDF to open and view the text of the article. 2. Should this fail, click on “Find a Copy” or “Article Linker” to link to another database who might own an online copy of the text (all this is done automatically) 2. When the full- text is not readily available, click on “Find a Copy” 1. Full text is available; click on either “Full-Text” or PDF. The full-text of the article should appear.

You clicked on “Find a Copy”? The next window give you the option to click on “360°”, linking you to a service which should tell you if we carry the article in print (fourth floor) or full-text online in another database.

If the article is available full-text online in another database… You should be offered a list of databases providing you with the full-text article You should be offered a list of databases providing you with the full-text article the article should open automatically (depending on the depository database). You might have to click a couple of times, but you will reach the goal. the article should open automatically (depending on the depository database). You might have to click a couple of times, but you will reach the goal. You may usually print it, save it or it. You may usually print it, save it or it.

Should the article not be available online, then maybe, just maybe it is available in print somewhere in a LIU campus. Click on “Journal”; this should take you to our online catalog who will inform you as to the availability of the printed journal. Call us if you experience any problem.

However, should this fail as well… go to our homepage and select “Inter Library Loan”, then, on the next page, click on “Journal Request”.

You clicked on “Journal Request”. Good, Fill it Up!

The top part is for your own personal information. The second part is to identify the journal article you need. Be as specific as you can.

Click on “Submit”. The Department should call/ you when the item arrives. You have to pick it up at the ILL Dept, 4 th floor.