Research Tips for Databases

Why use a database?

There are a few different reasons why databases are better than google for research. Here are the most important reasons:

• Someone else has already done the hard work of verifying the accuracy of the information - if you research on Google, you have to put a lot of extra time into verifying that the source Google has provided you is accurate. This means that the databases are generally pretty reliable - the school pays money to access them. (Note: this does not mean that ALL the content in ALL the databases is always reliable and without bias - depending on the format (for example, if it is an op-ed or an article that is not peer reviewed), some of the content may have lots of bias, or be outdated or incorrect - in general, though, you have to do less work to verify accuracy than if you are just free searching on Google).

• The algorithms Google uses for finding information are NOT transparent and do NOT verify accuracy.

• As a matter of fact, studies have shown that the Google algorithms are biased and distorted - here is an article that delves into the idea a bit racism in certain Google search results.

• Results from databases are really easy to filter for certain criteria (like if you only want certain publications and time periods), once you know how. Filtering is simple - if you've every done any online shopping, you already know how to use filters and keywords.

Getting Started with Databases

How to Search

Databases require slightly different search strategies than Google - for example, you can't just type a full sentence question into a database search bar and come up with relevant results. To search in a database, you need to use precise keywords and boolean operators! Don't type your inquiry out as a question - this will reduce your chance of finding what you're looking for.

Keywords

Essentially, keywords are the words that most closely define your topic, and will produce the most relevant results when you enter them into a database. Figuring out what the keywords you should be using is a trial and error process. Here are a few tips:

• Look at your chosen topic. Brainstorm a list of closely related words, or related words you came across in your text.

• You can't use Wikipedia as a source in your paper, but you can read Wikipedia for background information, and look at the terms that are hyperlinked to new Wikipedia articles. These are often excellent keywords

• Scan several articles on the same topic, and highlight words, names, or events that show up frequently.

For more information on keywords, see Walden University Library's guide.

Boolean Operators

Boolean operators are a simple language that is used in database search boxes that uses modifers such as OR, quotation marks, + and *. These operators essentially work as filters for your topic.

For example, f you are searching for a multi-word term like human trafficking or food justice, you must put the term inside of quotation marks. If you want to search for a specific aspect of that term, add a plus sign, like this: "human trafficking"+statistics. If you can't find what you're looking for, try searching for alternate terms or words that mean the same thing.

Using quotation marks and + are just the simplest and most common ways to filter information. Use this guide to get started on more advanced searches.