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.
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.
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.
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.
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