Note: Larger PDF copies of all of the images below can be downloaded from the "Getting Started" tab.
1. Go to MCC's database page and select your database (example: ProQuest Research Library).
2. Enter the database. Select "Advanced Search" (highlighted in yellow in the middle of Image 1 below).
Image 1.
![Enter the Database and select "Advanced Search"](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/297094/images/Advanced_Search.png)
3. In the Advanced Search screen, start your search by doing the following: (see Image 2 below):
- Type your first keyword in the first box (use " " to search exact phrase, or use * to truncate a word).
- If using a second keyword, type in the second box (using " " or * if desired).
The search will default to an "AND" search; adjust the box before the second keyword search bar if you want to use NOT or OR.
- IF DESIRED: Check the "Full-Text" box to view only results with text present.
- If NEEDED: Check the "Peer reviewed" box to only view articles that have gone through the peer-review process.
- If research has to be recent, use the Publication Date area to set that requirement.
- Click on the green "Search" button on the right side of the screen, underneath the Publication Date area.
Image 2.
![](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/297094/images/Follow_steps_below.png)
4. Examine the results list, choose a article title, then click the blue hyperlinked title (see Image 3 below).
Some helpful hints:
- The number in the upper left-hand corner is the number of results that fit your criteria.
If you want to reduce that number, add another keyword.
- The column on the left allows you to adjust your results.
- The main page is the results list allows you to see the hyperlinked (blue) article title and basic information.
- DO NOT TAKE THE FIRST RESULT!
Read the titles and choose something that interests you, then click the blue text to see more.
Image 3.
![](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/297094/images/PQResultsListAnnotated.png)
5. Once inside the hyperlinked article page, navigate the screen by doing the following (see Image 4 below):
- Read the article title one more time. Does this article's title intrigue you?
- Examine the publication information. Note the author names, the title of the journal the article was published in, the publication date, and article length (if available).
- Read the abstract BEFORE reading the article.
Reason: Abstracts are 300-800 words; academic articles are often several thousand words.
- Read the article and/or save/download/email it to yourself to read later.
NOTE: always check where you save the text before you exit the search to make sure that the article is actually there.
- Grab any other information (citations, etc.) that you need and save them in a document/place to use them later.
Hint: Use the "Cite" feature for this! Select your style, then copy/paste into your document so you can check it later.
- Go back to the list of results by clicking "Back to results" or "Results list" in the upper right-hand corner of the article entry.
- Find another article whose title interests you and repeat the process!
Image 4.
![](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/297094/images/PQArticle_Example.png)
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