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Electronic Databases

Guide to Searching ProQuest Databases

Searching Guidelines | Retrieving Articles | Output Options

General Guidelines

Description

Gateway to full text articles and abstracts in newspapers and in general and business periodicals.

Availability

Available at all Library workstations. 

Remote access for Upstate faculty, students and staff available through LEAP.

Simultaneous Use

 Not restricted.

Timeouts

 No

Exit Instructions

Use the browser Back or Home buttons to return to the library home page.


Searching Guidelines

Default Search

ProQuest allows you to search all available databases or to select one or more databases from the select database screen. Search by Word - Basic is the default.

Other Options

Search by Word - in addition to the basic search, ProQuest allows a Guided Word Search (select search fields) and a Natural Language Search.

Search for Publication - looks for words or phrase in a magazine, newspaper, or journal title.

Search by Topic - browse a subject list, or match a word or phrase to the  list of topics. (Note: Search by Topic always searches all available databases.)

Truncation/Wildcards

An asterisk (*) can be used to replace individual characters within or at the end of a word (e.g., wom*n)
A question mark (?) at the end of a word retrieves all endings (e.g., nurs? matches nurse, nurses, nursing)

Boolean/Proximity
Operators

Two words separated by a space are automatically searched as a phrase. Enclose phrases longer than two words in quotation marks.

Allows use of  Boolean operators: AND, OR, AND NOT

Proximity:

  • AND retrieves articles with the two terms in the same paragraph.
  • W/DOC retrieves articles with the two terms in the same article. 
  • W/n retrieves articles that contain a specified word or phrase within a specified number of words of another word or phrase. (e.g., health W/3 organization) 
  • PRE/n retrieves articles that contain the first specified word or phrase preceding a second by a specified number words.  (e.g., patient PRE/3 care)

Limit Search

Search by Word - For basic and guided searches, drop down boxes allow selection of date range, publication types and searching for keywords in the citation/abstract or full text. Searches can also be limited to full text and/or peer reviewed articles.

Previous Searches

Click on Your Recent Searches to view up to 25 searches  from the current session. Searches from previous sesions are not saved. 

Combining Searches

A previous search can be added to the completed current search by clicking on Your Recent Searches and selecting the number of a previous search from the list.

Special Features

Publications List -  to display the list of all publication titles in the database, click the information icon  and then click on the link labeled List Publications. Or, do a Search for Publication and enter ? in the search box.

Search Wizard lead you through a structured keyword search, helping you to select specific fields, date reatrictions or proximity operators.

Preferences - can change search options to allow for spelling variants and plurals (e.g., labor will also find labour, labors) or related terminology (e.g., searching for employment also finds job and work).


Retrieving Articles in Electronic Journals

Availability

ProQuest provides full text access to selected electronic journals.

Finding a Known
Article

From the ProQuest Main Page:

  1. Accept the default (All Databases) and click on Continue (blue and white box)
  2. Select New Search: for Publication
  3. Choose the journal by typing its name in the search box and selecting Search
  4. A list of matching journal names will display. Select the correct journal
  5. A list of available issues names will display. Select the correct issue
  6. A list of aricles in that issue will display. Click on the link to the desired article.

Output Options

Displaying Records

To view a single record, click on the link to that record from the Results List or the Marked List.

To view multiple records, click in the box next to the citation, then select Marked List.

Print or E-mail
Citations

Display the record (above), then select Print Article or Email Article and follow the instructions on the screen.

 
 
Health Sciences Library
SUNY Upstate Medical University
766 Irving Avenue
Syracuse, N.Y. 13210
Phone: 315 464-7091