Each database interface is a little different from the next, but there are plenty of things they have in common. Once you learn to look for these common features, you'll be able to approach any new database interface with confidence.

The most obvious thing to look for is the search box. This is the box in which you'll type in your search terms. There may be a single box in which you type everything, or there may be an option for an "advanced search" which has multiple boxes. Choose whichever you prefer.

The next thing to be aware of is the searching techniques which the database supports. This will vary a little from database to database, but most have the following features in common:

• Boolean Operators (and, or, not). Note that in some databases, these need to be in capital letters or they will be ignored as stopwords. This is true in the Britannica Online and in many of the free government databases. If you are not sure, put your Boolean Operators in all caps just to be safe.
• Nesting. Any database which supports Boolean Operators should also support nesting. Use parentheses to set off "or" phrases.
• Phrase searching. In some databases, phrases are automatically treated as such. In others, you may need to use quotation marks or proximity operators to indicate that they are phrases. Check the help files or ask at the reference desk if you are not sure how to do this for your database.
• Truncation and wildcards. Most databases use the asterisk (*) as the truncation symbol, but there are a few exceptions. Lexis-Nexis uses the exclamation point (!). Dow Jones uses the dollar sign ($). DIALOG uses the question mark (?).
• Field searching. The methods for doing this vary from database to database, but it is almost always available in some form or another. Look for a pull-down box for various fields, and if that is not available, check the help files or ask at the reference desk.
• Limiting features. Look for date range, record type, language and other limiters to help narrow your search.

  For an introduction to the use of the above searching techniques, see Show me how to improve my searching techniques.

  Once you have a reasonable number of records (called citations), you can go through them and select the ones which most interest you. Most databases allow you to "mark" records so that you can go back and print, e-mail, or download just the ones you want after you are finished looking at them. Look for a small box to click with your mouse next to each record. (Two notable exceptions: Lexis-Nexis does not offer marking capability, and DIALOG web only saves the marking from one screen at a time, so you will need to print as you go.) Once you have marked all the records you want, look for a button saying something like "show marked records." This should display only the ones you have marked. At this point, look for printing, e-mailing, or downloading options.

  IMPORTANT: PLEASE LIMIT YOUR CITATION LIST TO UNDER 50 RECORDS BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO LOOK THROUGH THEM. SOMETIMES STUDENTS SPEND HOURS LOOKING THROUGH HUNDREDS OF RECORDS, ONLY TO HAVE THE COMPUTER CRASH BEFORE THEY CAN PRINT OUT THE ONES THEY'VE MARKED. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE EXHAUSTED TEARS FROM THIS HAPPENING. LIMIT YOUR SEARCH APPROPRIATELY. THAT'S WHAT ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY IS FOR. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE IN NARROWING YOUR SEARCH, PLEASE ASK AT THE REFERENCE DESK.

  Only a few databases have the full text of articles online, and in many of the ones that do have it, not all of the articles within the database are full text. Don't limit yourself to articles which are full text online. You will be cheating your research if you do. Some of the best information is still only available in print or microform journals. If you find a citation which interests you, see How do I find journal articles on my topic? for steps to take in order to see if Furman has it, and where to find it.