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What is a database?

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Once upon a time...

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The public expected published information to be carefully evaluated by knowledgeable editors.

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That meant they believed they could rely on it.

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Once upon a time...

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all the information could be found in

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books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and so on.

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Today, a lot of these resources still exist in their traditional formats.

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However, many of these resources are also being published in electronic editions,

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and some are only being published in electronic formats.

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Where can I find these electronic editions?

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Libraries often buy research databases in order to build collections of electronic resources.

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These databases offer electronic editions of

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books,

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journals, magazines, newspapers, and other information.

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If you belong to a specific library,

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you can use their research databases to track down books and academic articles

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on the Internet.

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These are sources you generally won't find though Google or Yahoo,

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because they are commercial products and not made available to the whole world for free.

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Google works for me!

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We all know Google is easy to use.

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Type a few words in the search box--and away you go.

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Yet, the links you uncover may or may not be useful.

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You will certainly want to evaluate the pages you choose for

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credibility, accuracy, authority, bias, currency, and other criteria.

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Besides, it is easy to to talk yourself into the idea

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that you've found enough sources,

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when you've probably just scratched the surface.

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Searching a research database

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will take a few more steps,

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steps that are sometimes hard to remember.

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Yet, the extra time it takes to open up your library's website

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and log in to a specific database

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could save you hours of time down the road.

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And you are much more likely to discover better coverage of your topic, written by experts.

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It's even easier to come up with a citation

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when you use a research database.

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Where are these research databases?

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These days, most college libraries,

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and many public libraries,

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provide research databases, such as

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Academic Search Premier,

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Academic Onefile,

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Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

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CQ Researcher,

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and Newspaper Source Plus.

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To locate them, go to your library's website

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and look for headers and links containing words, like

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databases, electronic resources, eCollection, articles, or eBooks.

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Search for the database of your choice

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and log in.

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If you aren't sure of how to find your username and password,

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look for this information on your library's website.

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Once you have logged in, you will usually see a search box,

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one offering many features that should allow you to effectively pinpoint the sources you need.

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Of course,

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each database works a bit differently,

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but if you try several different databases,

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you will begin to notice more similarities than differences.

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It's just too hard!

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It does take time to become an expert searcher.

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And if you ever intend to do extensive research,

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you may want to dig in and learn how to use your favorite databases well.

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Yet, the novice searcher

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should be able to uncover plenty of useful sources with some rudimentary searches.

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Search tip:

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If, after poking around in a research database, you cannot find what you need,

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try turning to a librarian.

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You can even find one online.

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I still think it's easier to use Google.

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Consider this:

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Even if you find a web edition of a traditionally published source on your topic,

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such as a newspaper article,

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your overall coverage is sure to be less substantive, spotty even.

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Remember!

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The experts don't work for free.

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While they may allow some of their work to appear on open web,

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they are more likely to protect their intellectual property.

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In other words,

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they will generally publish their work in books, journals, magazines, and newspapers.

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If you begin your research project by tracking down work written by experts,

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your own work is sure to be stronger.

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Does this mean I should never use Google?

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Not at all.

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In this video series,

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the term traditionally published

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is being used to describe the resources that have been available to researchers for hundreds of years

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in books,

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academic journals,

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magazines,

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and newspapers.

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It is an information landscape that was often subjected to rigorous evaluation

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before it was made available.

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Again, much of this information still exists

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in old and new formats

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and is still being published today.

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It is still worthy of being mined for college research.

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Is the World Wide Web useful to college researchers--the open web, I mean.

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It's up to you.

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If you want to be the one who rises to the top of the job application pile,

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or the one who receives a college acceptance letter,

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take the time to understand the overall information landscape.

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Understand the difference between the open web and electronic resources available in research databases.

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Understand the difference between a piece that has gone through an editorial review process by a reputable organization or company,

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and a piece that has been written by an interested citizen.

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Know what you are reading, who wrote it, and why.

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Understand where the best resources can be found.

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Learn to write.