Understanding How Databases Are Organized
Here are some tips that librarians use to successfully search unfamiliar databases:
For a quick overview, click on the The information under the |
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For a more in-depth description, go directly to the database. |
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Once you are in the database, you can look for the “help” or the “about” sections. |
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As you are examining databases, ask yourself what the database leaves out.
Example:
- Does a psychology database also include information on psychiatry?
- Are theses and dissertations or books and book chapters indexed?
Think about what databases contain
Formats contained within databases:
- Journals
- Books & review articles
- Newspapers
- Statistics
- Datasets
- Dissertations
- Conference proceedings
- Technical reports
- Maps
- Government documents
Databases are structured by specific categories called fields. When searching, there is the ability to search for keywords in fields that you specify from a pull down menu.
- Keyword
- Author
- Title
- Subject / Descriptor / Classification Codes
- Abstract
- Issuing Institution
- Publication type
- Publication Year
- Publisher
- Journal Title
- Report Number
- Series
- Language
- Refereed or Non-Refereed Publication Types
- Geographic Region
- ISSN and ISBN
- Other Discipline Specific Fields
Look to see if the database contains site maps or sub-sets. Site-maps can help you determine how a database organizes its content: |
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Sub-Sets allow you to select a particular section of a larger database to search: |
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