I went to Google and typed in "scholarly databases" and the first hit was JSTOR so that is the database that I ended up using.
2. Which database provided more relevant results for your topic?
I have found that almost all databases I have tried out have brought me relevant results, mostly all of which have been useful to me. But the most useful so far has been the Academic Search Premier.
3. How are you able to narrow down results in Academic Search Premier? How are you able to narrow down results in the subject specific database?
In Academic Search Premier to narrow your search you can choose full text, scholarly journals, document type, number of pages, what type of images you are looking for, dates published, periodical type, language, cover story, quick image view, and full PDF text. With JSTOR you can choose item type (article, review, misc, pamphlet), date range, language, and discipline and/or publication title (i.e. African Studies, Astronomy, Business, Music, Philosophy, etc.)
4. If your first search string didn't work, what synonyms did you use?
My first search string worked.
5. How many relevant articles did you find from Academic Search Premier? How many from the subject specific database?
With Academic Search Premier there was 1005 results, most of them useful to my project. With JSTOR there were 46691 results and many of them were not relevant to my search.
6. Of the relevant articles that you found, how many were available in full text? How many were available via Findlt through other databases? How many were available via Findlt in print in our collection? How many are not available at all, and required an ILL request?
539 were available in full text. I don't know what Findlt is... But there were very many that were not available at all.
7. Since working with databases, have your research question(s) changed at all? Why or why not?
Yes, my search question has changed several times because I realized from using the databases that my the question I was using was not going to get me any results. I have had to change even the whole main idea behind my question but they have all defiantly been changes for the better.
8. What has been your biggest challenge in composing your research question? How do you think you would be able to overcome those challenges?
Probably one of the hardest things for me is revising my question in such a way that will get me proper results when I make it into a search string. I think the best way to overcome this is to practice and do a lot of revision. I know I will get it in the end.
4. If your first search string didn't work, what synonyms did you use?
My first search string worked.
5. How many relevant articles did you find from Academic Search Premier? How many from the subject specific database?
With Academic Search Premier there was 1005 results, most of them useful to my project. With JSTOR there were 46691 results and many of them were not relevant to my search.
6. Of the relevant articles that you found, how many were available in full text? How many were available via Findlt through other databases? How many were available via Findlt in print in our collection? How many are not available at all, and required an ILL request?
539 were available in full text. I don't know what Findlt is... But there were very many that were not available at all.
7. Since working with databases, have your research question(s) changed at all? Why or why not?
Yes, my search question has changed several times because I realized from using the databases that my the question I was using was not going to get me any results. I have had to change even the whole main idea behind my question but they have all defiantly been changes for the better.
8. What has been your biggest challenge in composing your research question? How do you think you would be able to overcome those challenges?
Probably one of the hardest things for me is revising my question in such a way that will get me proper results when I make it into a search string. I think the best way to overcome this is to practice and do a lot of revision. I know I will get it in the end.
Hi Ava,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post about your subject-specific database experience. I have a pretty good idea about what you experienced with JSTOR based on your description.
What was the successful search string that you used in JSTOR?
Re: FindIt: If you retrieve results from a database that are not full text, there will be a FindIt button next to the result, or underneath it. If you click on FindIt, it will tell you whether the article would be available in full text in another SCSU-owned database, in a print journal available at the Miller Center Library, in microfilm/microfiche (which you would have to read with a special machine in the Periodicals section) or if you would have to fill out an interlibrary loan request to get the article from another library. Our Interlibrary Loan department is pretty fast--it takes less than a week for them to locate an article!
You are right when you say that it takes a lot of trial and error to construct a research question and find the right keywords to do online searching. This is a part of the research process, and improves with experience. Please let me know if you have any questions about your research!
Sincerely,
Professor Wexelbaum