ProQuest Databases

Printable version

Introduction | Accessing | Searching | Search Results | Locating Full Text | Managing Search Results | Search Tips| Additional Features

Introduction

ProQuest provides many databases on a wide range of subjects. ProQuest databases which use the PQNext search interface include

Other ProQuest databases which use different search interfaces, and are not described here, include

Accessing

This database may be accessed from the Databases page of the Electronic Resources section of the NSU Alvin Sherman Library website.

For more on how to access databases visit http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/lessons/electroniclibrary/

When you click on a ProQuest database title–from the databases lists–you will be logged into that specific database. To change databases or to select multiple databases

• click the link labeled Databases selected below the tabs
• click the link labeled Clear all databases
• click the checkbox(es) to the left of a database’s name to select the database
• click the Continue button

Selecting multiple databases in ProQuest.

Searching

The default search in ProQuest is the Advanced Search mode. To choose one of the other search modes, click on Basic Search, Topic Guide, or Publication Search.

To construct an Advanced Search in ProQuest

• type your search term(s) in the entry box(es)
• click on Search to obtain a list of records

Advanced Search screen in ProQuest.

Search Results

Search results will vary. If you get:

• No records matched your search, then check your spelling or the fields you searched in.
• Too many, then go back and limit your search. Sometimes a search needs to be modified with: additional search words, searching only a specific field, adding date limitations, or type of materials.
• Too few, then go back and expand your search. Consider synonyms for your search words or concepts. Try to use professional language or terminology.
• Irrelevant results, then try new search terms. Consider synonyms or related concepts. Identify and search using descriptors. Try a different database.

Results lists

Search results will display a list of citations matching your search. Results will be arranged by tabs. There are separate tabs for results found in Scholarly Journals, Magazines, Trade Publications, Newspapers, Reference/Reports, and Dissertations. The results list shows:

• citations for items that matched your search
• availability of full-text–indicated by the small icons below the article titles
• Other options for modifying your search including
  • Suggested topics
  • Browse Suggested Publication
  • Refine Search.

Search results in ProQuest.

Records

To view a record click on the title of the article.

Sample record in ProQuest.

The information in the record, especially the title of the item and the abstract, if available, will help you determine if you need the item.

Locating Full Text

Most ProQuest databases include selected full text. If full text is available for a particular article, the results list and record will include icon(s) linking to the full text formats available. Full text documents may be available in one or more of the following formats. Click on an icon to view.

	Abstract - citation and/or abstract only
	Full text - Full text of the document in html format, but excluding graphics.
	Text + graphics - Full text in html format with graphics. Graphics will not appear as in the original document.
	PDF - Full text in PDF format. Adobe Reader required to view and print. Graphics and typography appear as in the original document.

Documents which do NOT have full text available within the database may have a Find a copy icon .
Click on this icon to view the document record.

Results list showing item with no full text available within this database. Click on Find a copy.

From the Document View, you can click on the Find It! icon to locate other possible sources for the full text.  Learn more about Find It!

Document record in ProQuest with Find It! link.

Managing Search Results

Databases typically allow you to manage your search results by

• marking or tagging records to select only the records that you want from your search results from later printing, emailing and/or saving
• printing the search results list and/or specific records
• emailing the search results list and/or specific records to your email address
• saving the search results list and/or specific records–some databases may allow you to save your file for export into commercial bibliographic citation manager software, such as EndNote or ProCite

Not all search management features are available in all databases.

Marking

The “mark” feature allows you to select records from within your search results. By marking items, you can print or email multiple records at one time.

To mark a record

• in the Results list, click in the check box to the left of a title
• in a Document View, click in the check box labeled Mark Document above the article title

Marking records in ProQuest.

To view your list of marked records

• click on the My Research tab–near the top of the screen

Marked list in ProQuest.

You may then email, print or export the items you have selected. Full-text will be emailed for marked items, but it will not be printed or exported – even if the full-text is available.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you select "Create your bibliography," it will offer you the option of several citation styles. Please not that this function is not formatting citations correctly. Please consult the appropriate stryle guide to ensure that citations are in the correct format. Additional information is available at Citations & Style Guides.

Printing

To print a record, including full-text if available

• click on the Print button–near the top of the Document View, not the one in your Internet browser
• when the print dialog box opens, click the Print button
• click the Back to Document View link–near the top of the article

Emailing

To email a record, including full-text if available

• click on the Email button–near the top of the Detailed Record

• select the Citation style and format
• select HTML or Plain text
• enter your name, complete email address, subject and message (optional)
• click the Send Email button
• at the email confirmation screen click document view

Emailing in ProQuest.

Saving

To save a record

• click on the My Research tab
• click on the Export citations link
• select a download/export format
• follow on-screen instructions–will vary depending on download format
• click the Back to My Research link

Exporting marked records in ProQuest.

To save an article as text only

• click on the Print button–near the top of the Document View
• when the print dialog box opens, click Cancel
• in the browser menu, click File, Save As
• select location
• change Save as type to Text file (.txt)
• enter filename–with .txt extension
• click Save
• click the Back to Document View link

Use a word processing program to open your file.

Search Tips

Use advanced search features to modify a search to obtain more successful search results. You can combine advanced search features to modify and improve your search. Advanced search features often include:

• phrase or proximity searching
• field searching
• date
• document and/or publication type
• Boolean operators
• plurals and truncation

One useful tip when searching any electronic database is to leave out articles, prepositions, and very abstract or general terms–they confuse the database's search engine.

For example, if the paper is on "The Impact of Mainstreaming Students in Math Classes,” use the most precise terms like mainstreaming and mathematics and skip impact, the, of, and in.

Phrase or proximity searching

In ProQuest, there are two ways to search for a phrase

• if the phrase contains more than two words, put the phrase in double quotes
  “world wide web”
  “english as a second language”

• if the phrase contains two words, ProQuest automatically searches the words as a phrase
  higher education
  curriculum development

  
  Phrase searching in ProQuest.

Field searching

To limit your search to a specific field in the record

• click on the pull-down arrow–to the right of the “Citation and article text” box
• scroll to the field to limit your search to
• click on the field’s name

  
  Field searching in ProQuest.

Date

To limit a search to specific dates

• go to the date range section of the screen
  • select a predefined range: last 7 days, last 30 days, last 3 months, last 12 months
  • select an option to to enter a date: On this date..., Before this date, After this date..., Specific date range...

  
  Limiting by date in ProQuest.

Publication type

To specify a publication type

• click on More search options
• locate the drop-down menu for Publication type
• click on the pull-down arrow after the words “All publication types”
• select All publication types or a specific publication type

Limiting by publication type in ProQuest.

Searches may also be limited to specific article or document types

• click on More search options
• locate the drop-down menu for Document Type
• click on the pull-down arrow after the words “Any article type”
• select Any document type or a specific document/article type

  
  Limiting by article type in ProQuest.

ProQuest searches may be limited to scholarly journals, including peer-reviewed publications

• go to the checkboxes section in the limit results to section–below the entry boxes
• use the Scholarly journals, including peer reviewed check box to limit your search

  
  Limiting to peer reviewed publications in ProQuest.

Boolean operators

The Boolean operators, AND, OR, and AND NOT, can be used to modify a search

• click on the pull-down arrow–between entry boxes
• click on the Boolean operator to use:

Use AND to narrow a search. AND looks for both terms in the same record.
leadership and vision; mainstreaming and science

Use OR to broaden a search. OR looks for either term in the same record.
mainstreaming or inclusion; elementary education or secondary education

Use NOT to eliminate records with a certain term.
Saturn not car; Venus not planet

Plurals

Use the following symbols in ProQuest databases to locate plural forms, truncate search terms, or replace characters:

?	Regular plural forms. school? retrieves both school and schools
*	Any number of characters at the end of a word. leader* retrieves leader, leaders, leadership
?	One character. defen?e retrieves both defense and defence
multiple?	A specific number of characters. compute? retrieves computer, computed, not compute, computers, computerized, computerization

Truncating search terms in ProQuest.

Additional Features

Users of ProQuest may already know what journal, newspaper or magazine they want. A quick way to access a periodical title without redoing a search is to use the Publication search method

• click on the Publications tab to open the Publication Search screen
• type the name of the periodical you want to find
• click the Search button
• click on the name of the periodical you want to display a list of the available issues, then you can conduct a search within the publication or select a specific issue to browse
  • to search within the publication
    • enter search terms in the search box
    • select a date range from the drop-down menu
    • select which fields to search from the drop-down menu
    • click Search
  • to browse through the issues
    • look through the list of issues to find the one you need
      • to find older issues, use the drop down menus to change dates, and then click on Browse Issues
    • select the issue you want
    • browse the alphabetical list of articles and select the article you want to view

         Publication search in ProQuest.