WilsonWeb

Introduction

WilsonWeb contains many databases on a wide range of subjects that include Applied Science and Technology Full Text, Biological & Agricultural Index Plus, Book Review Digest Plus, Book Review Digest Retrospective, Education Index Retrospective, Essay and General Literature, General Science Full Text, Humanities & Social Sciences Retrospective, Humanities Full Text; Index to Legal Periodicals and Books, Library Literature & Information Science Full Text, Readers Guide Full Text, Readers' Guide Retrospective, Short Story Index, and Social Sciences Full Text.

interface screen
WilsonWeb Interface.

Accessing

This database may be accessed from the Electronic Resources Section of the Alvin Sherman Library website.

Searching

The Advanced Search screen provides a variety of text entry boxes, dropdown boxes, and radio buttons to help construct a search for information. Whether selecting one database or multiple databases to search, the screen automatically changes to offer the most useful limiter choices for the database(s).

To construct an advanced search

type a word, phrase, or name in one or more of the blank text entry boxes
if you enter terms in two or more entry boxes, select the appropriate Boolean operator to use
you may further limit your search by selecting from the other available options–use the checkboxes and pull-down arrows to make selections
click Start to retrieve your search results

advanced search screen
Advanced searching

Note: If desired, multiple WilsonWeb databases can be searched at the same time

click on Open Database Selection Area at the top of the screen
use the check boxes to select the desired databases
then click on Close Database Selection Area to minimize

advanced search screen

Selecting multiple WilsonWeb databases reduces the number of available search options–only search features common to all selected databases will be available.

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

The results screens displays items that most closely match your search terms. By default, the list is sorted by relevance and provides the short form of the citation. The Search results list shows

search results screen
Search results list

Records

To view a record click on the title of the article to display the full citation

If the Full Text icon appears to the left of the record, lick on the appropriate icon to display the full text of the article

If the Full Text is not available, you can click on the "Library Owns?" icon to conduct a search to see if the library owns the journal.

full results screen
Record in full display mode

Managing Search Results

Databases typically allow you to manage your search results by utilizing the option below:

printing your search results list and/or specific records
saving your 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 save, print or email multiple records at one time.

To mark a record

in the Search Results list, click in the check box–left of a title
in an Article Display, click in the check box–top of screen

marking records screen
Selecting records to view

To view your list of marked records

click the Get Marked link

get marked records link screen
Get marked records

You may then email, print or save the items you have selected. Full-text will be available in html or pdf format.

Printing

To print an article in html format

click the Print tab
under "Fields to Include" select the HTML option, make sure "Include HTML Full Text" is checked.
click Print
click OK or Print when the Print dialog box appears
click on Back to Results to return to results list

print options screen
Printing

To print an article in PDF format

select the "PDF icon"
click the Print icon within the Adobe Reader screen
click OK or Print when the Print dialog box appears
close the PDF window

article pdf screen
Article in PDF format.

Emailing

To email records

click the Email tab
enter an email address–to enter multiple addresses, separate them with a semi-colon
enter a subject line for the email
select the relevant options for Records, Fields, Format, etc.
click Email
click on Back to Results to return to results list

Email options
Emailing records

Saving

To save records

click the Save tab
select the relevant options for Records, Fields, Format, etc.
click Save
A file of the chosen format will be sent to your browser. Depending on the chosen format and your browser settings, your browser will either display the file or ask you whether you want to 'Open' the file or 'Save' it. Choose Save if given the option and then choose a name and location for the file on your disk. Otherwise, click on the File menu in your browser menu, then click on Save As, choose a name and location for the file, and close the window.
click Back to Results

save records screen
Saving records

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:

date
document and/or publication type and
Boolean operators

Phrase or proximity searching

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

terms typed in the same box
higher education
curriculum development

use the letter w to search for two words as a phrase
higher w education
curriculum w development

Phrase searching in WilsonWeb

Field searching

To limit your search to a specific field in the record

click on the pull-down arrow to the right of the box that says “as”
scroll to the field to limit your search to
click on the field’s name

Field searching in WilsonWeb.

Date

To limit a search to specific years

go to the Limit Dates To section
click on a radial button–to search Any Year or
select Within last 12 months or
select From a specific year to another year ( like 1995-1998 )

limit by date screen
Limiting by date

Document type

To specify a document type

click on the "Document Type" from the drop-down arrow
select All (all document types) or choose from the list

document type screen
Limiting by document type

Wilson Web searches may be limited to peer-reviewed (refereed) publications

go to the Limit to: section–below the entry boxes
use the Peer reviewed check box to limit your search

peer-review option screen
Limiting to peer reviewed publications

Boolean operators

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

click on the pull-down arrow below the “FIND" icon
select a 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

boolean operator screen
Boolean operators

Plurals

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

	Regular plural forms are automatically retrieved. school+ retrieves both school and schools
*	Zero or any number of characters. leader* retrieves leader, leaders, leadership m*cdonald retrieves mcdonald, macdonald
?	One character for each ?. defen?e retrieves both defense and defence einst??n retrieves both einstein and einstien

Truncating search terms in WilsonWeb.

Additional Features

The Thesaurus is a controlled vocabulary list of subjects and related terms used to standardize the indexing in the database. You can select and search for synonyms, related, and preferred terms.

To use the Thesaurus

click the Thesaurus button
select one or more databases
enter a term or phrase
click Start

The results screen displays your term, or a related term, in a hierarchy. The report includes the database(s), and how many related records are available.

To clear the terms entered

click the Clear button

thesaurus search screen
Thesaurus