James Madison University Libraries & Educational Technologies http://www.lib.jmu.edu

Cochrane Library Search Tips                                                06/09                       

What's in the Cochrane Library?

Contains reviews of up-to-date information on the effects of treatment interventions in
health care.  Provides evidenced-based information on decisions taken in health care.
Topics are categorized according to Specialist Groups, including:    Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group, Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group, Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group, Neonatal Group, Oral Health Group, Stroke Group and Neuromuscular Disease Group.

Cochrane Library Selected Features:

CDSR (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)- Unbiased reviews of all relevant
scientific studies on a particular topic, including methodology reviews and protocols.

DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects)- Background & "grey" literature; complements CDSR by quality assessing and summarizing reviews.   Prepared by non-Cochrane Collaboration reviewers.

CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials)- Details about published articles
taken from MEDLINE and EMBASE and other published and unpublished sources (original studies).  
Does not include full texts of articles.  

CMR (Cochrane Methodology Register) - Bibliography of publications which report on
methods used in the conduct of controlled trials.

HTA (Health Technology Assessment Database)- Brings together data of completed and ongoing health technology assessments (medical, social, ethical and economic factors of interventions).

NHSEED (NHS Economic Evaluation Database)- Economic evaluations across the world.

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Coverage Dates:  Varies.

Boolean operators (connectors):  AND, OR, NOT

AND is used by default between terms, regardless of location or proximity in a record.
Example:   brain stem    will retrieve records where both words are included in any order
or proximity.  Use quotation marks for exact phrases (see below).
 
Synonyms:  Use OR to connect similar terms. You can use a comma shortcut for the

word OR.     Example:     elderly, old       can be used as well as         elderly OR old

Phrase searching:  Use quotation marks for words in a particular order.
Example: "birth order"

Truncation - picks up any ending:    This is done automatically.
Example: aid will retrieve aid, aids, aided, aiding

Wildcard:  Use *   for alternate spellings:

Example:  behavi*r  [for behavior or behaviour]

Hyphens:  It is not necessary to search for hyphenated terms separately; this will be done automatically.

Nesting - for when you use a mixture of operators:

Example:   (aphasia or alexia or anomia or dysphasia) and (older adult* or elderly)

Other:   MeSH searches, Search History and Saved Searches are all possible.

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If in doubt about how to start your search, go to , enter search terms in boxes

and do NOT restrict your search by a particular database/product; i.e., leave settings as seen below:

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ComDisDOME (CSA) Search Tips                                       06/09 

What's in the ComDisDOME (CSA)?

This database originally acted as an experimental gateway to books-dissertations-journal articles and web resources of interest to the CSD field.     However, since its recent acquisition by CSA in 2007, it no longer functions as much as a 'gateway' and instead primarily searches CSD journals and some subject specific dissertations, along with a few web resources.         Do NOT use this database to search for books; use LEO instead.

Coverage Dates:   1950 to present.
Journals in ComDisDome List:   Click on  and look for .

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Boolean operators (connectors):    AND, OR, NOT

Synonyms:  Use OR to connect similar terms.  Example:  adolescents OR teenagers 

Phrase searching:
automatically searches for adjacent words.  Example:  cochlear hair cell*

Multiple words entered into a search field (e.g., stria vascularis), will be treated as a phrase.
To find all words entered in a search field, separate words with AND.
To find any words entered in a search field, separate words with OR.

Truncation - picks up any ending:
Example: adolescen* [for adolescence or adolescent, etc.)

Wildcard:  Use * for alternate spellings:

Example:  behavi*r  [for behavior or behaviour] 
 

Nesting - for when you use a mixture of operators:
bilingual* and (infant* or child*) and speech perception;
assessment and (aphasia or alexia or anomia or dysphasia) and (older adult* or elderly)

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Limits:

Search within a particular journal (jn=   )
jn=journal of child language ;   jn=journal of child language and autism

Eliminate a previous search or combine searches:
At link at right top of screen, delete individual search set(s) and/or
combine them in new ways:

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Compare types of searches:

Words (Keywords, KW=) - searches author, title, abstract, key phrases, descriptors
Title (Title, TI=) - searches title words only
Subject (Descriptors, DE=) - search key phrases as descriptors only (works with MEDLINE articles)

Subject Searching: The ComDisDOME searches more than one database, including MEDLINE and a subset of Dissertations Abstract Online.    When it searches MEDLINE, it uses the MeSH controlled vocabulary thesaurus.    Dissertations Abstracts Online does not use a controlled thesaurus.  

If you already know the correct MEDLINE descriptor term or phrase, use de=term or
phrase you want to use: de=aphasia, broca

An experimental Topic Guide is also available, which provides an hierachical/alphabetical/rotated view of the discipline's major topic areas.  Use the Thesaurus Search button to browse - and search - for terms in this Topic Guide:

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How to find E-Journal full-text articles:

Click on JMU's  link when you find a good reference  OR
open a 2nd web browser and search Periodical Locator for the journal.

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ERIC (EBSCO) Search Tips                                                         06/09

What's in ERIC (EBSCO)?

Abstracts of educational periodicals and unpublished documents available since 1966.

Includes links to selected full text articles and ERIC Documents.  Updated weekly.

ERIC journals are identified by an EJ number; ERIC Documents are identified by an

ED number.   About 92% of ERIC Documents from 1993 to present are available

online; the majority of the remainder are available on microfiche in the microfilm room on

the 1st floor of Carrier Library.  The microfiche are filed by ED number.
 

Coverage Dates:  1966 to present.
Journals in ERIC List:  Click on    at top of search screen. Highlight Journal Title from drop down box, type in word or phrase and click on Browse.

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Boolean operators (connectors):  AND, OR, NOT
 
Synonyms:  Use OR to connect similar terms.  Example:  adolescents OR teenagers

Phrase searching:  Use "   ".  Example: "birth order"

Truncation - picks up any ending:     Example: adolescen* will retrieve adolescence,
adolescent, adolescents

Nesting - for when you use a mixture of operators:
bilingual* and (adolescent* or teenagers or youth or high school students) ;
communication and (pdd or autis* or asperger's)
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Limits:

Search within a particular journal:  

Look for blank search boxes at top of screen: 
At Select a Field (optional) box, select SO Journal Title and type in title of journal.   Add other terms in other boxes as needed.

Other Limits:  On main search page scroll down to

Limit Option:                          Possible Choices:

Journal (EJ) or Document (ED)       All; Documents; Journal Articles

Educational Levels                        Early Childhood Education; Higher Education, etc.

Publication Types                         Books; Dissertations/Theses (All); Journal Articles, etc.

Intended Audience                        Counselors; Parents, etc.

Eliminate or revise, etc. a previous search.   Click on  link :

First, click on box(s) by search(s) :

and then choose your button to narrow, expand or delete search:

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Compare types of searches:

• Keyword - searches Title, Author, Abstract, Subject Heading words, and more

• Subject - Click  tab and Browse  for your term within the Thesaurus.  Also, if available, use:
  
           Explode - search for that term and broader, narrower or related terms.
  
           To search for a term from the   in the database -
           Check box by term, select boolean operator and click    button.

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How to find E-Journal full-text articles:

Click on JMU's  link when you find a good reference  OR
open a 2nd web browser and search Periodical Locator for the journal.

Search multiple databases:

Go to Choose Databases and Click on PsycINFO, etc. Then search them all at once.

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 LLBA Search Tips (CSA)                                                                06/09

What's in LLBA (Language and Linguistics Behavior Abstracts)?

Abstracts of journal articles, books, papers, monographs, dissertations on all aspects
of language - including language acquisition and language and speech disorders.  
 

Coverage Dates:   1973 to present.

Journals in LLBA List:    Click on  

and look for .

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Boolean operators (connectors):    AND, OR, NOT

Synonyms:  Use OR to connect similar terms.  Example:  adolescents OR teenagers 

Phrase searching:
automatically searches for adjacent words.  Example:  speech synthesis

Multiple words entered into a search field (e.g., health nutrition), will be treated as a phrase.
To find all words entered in a search field, separate words with AND.
To find any words entered in a search field, separate words with OR.

Truncation - picks up any ending:
Example: adolescen* [for adolescence or adolescent, etc.)

Wildcard:  Use * for alternate spellings:

Example:  behavi*r  [for behavior or behaviour] 

Nesting - for when you use a mixture of operators:
bilingual* and (adolescen* or teenagers or youth or high school students);
assessment and (aphasia or alexia or anomia or dysphasia) and (older adult* or elderly)
 

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Limits:

Search within a particular journal (jn=   )
jn=journal of child language ;   jn=journal of child language and autism

Eliminate a previous search;  combine searches:
At link at top of screen, delete individual search set(s) and/or
eliminate them in a new combined search:

 

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Compare types of searches:

Words (Keywords, KW=) - searches author, title, abstract, key phrases, descriptors
Title (Title, TI=) - searches title words only
Subject (Descriptors, DE=) - search key phrases as descriptors only

Subject Searching: Use the LLBA Thesaurus online:

       At the tab, Click on the Thesaurus tab
        At the Select Thesaurus: box select English version

        At the Browse Thesaurus for: box, type in your word(s)
        and click on the Go button.  
        To search the database on term or phrase, click on
        the box to the left of the word(s) and then click on the Search box.

If you already know the correct descriptor  term or phrase, use de=term or
phrase: de=aphasia

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How to find E-Journal full-text articles:

Click on JMU's  link when you find a good reference  OR
open a 2nd web browser and search Periodical Locator for the journal.

Back to Top

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PsycINFO (EBSCO) Search Tips                                        06/09

What's in the PsycINFO database?

Abstracts of psychology journal articles, books, book chapters, dissertations and
other documents with links to full text for many articles.  Covers 1872 to the present.
97% of the covered material is peer-reviewed.

Coverage Dates: 1880s to present.

Journals in PsycINFO List:    Click on    at top of search screen. Highlight Publication Name from drop down box, type in word or phrase and click on Browse.

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Boolean operators (connectors):    AND, OR, NOT
     

Synonyms:  Use OR to connect similar terms. Example: adolescents OR teenagers

Phrase searching:     Automatically searches for adjacent words, without use of   "   ".

Example: birth order     (Cf ERIC searching which differs in this regard  6/07)

Truncation - picks up any ending:   Use *            Example: adolescen*
 

Nesting - for when you use a mixture of operators:
bilingual* and (adolescen* or teenagers or youth or high school students) and depression

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Limits: 

Search within a particular journal:  

Look for blank search boxes at top of screen: 
At Select a Field (optional) box, select  SO Publication Name  and type in title of journal.   Add other terms in other boxes as needed.

Other Limits:  On main search page scroll down to

Limit Option:                           Possible Choices:

Methodology                                 Clinical case study; Empirical study, etc.

Age Groups                                  Infancy (2-23 mo.); Aged (65 yrs & older), etc.

Publication Types                         All Journals; All Books; Dissertation Abstract, etc.

and other categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                     

Eliminate or revise, etc. a previous search.   Click on  link.

First, click on box(s) by search(s) :

and then choose your button to narrow, expand or delete search:

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Compare types of searches:

• Keyword - searches Title, Author, Abstract, Subject Heading words, and more

• Subject - Click  tab and Browse  for your term within the Thesaurus.  Also, if available, use:
  
           Explode - search for that term and broader, narrower or related terms.
  
           To search for a term from the   in the database -
           Check box by term, select boolean operator and click    button.

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How to find E-Journal full-text articles:

Click on JMU's  link when you find a good reference  OR
open a 2nd web browser and search Periodical Locator for the journal.

Search multiple databases:

Go to Choose Databases and Click on ERIC, etc. Then search them all at once.

Back to Top

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PubMed Search Tips                                                     06/09

Try the PubMED  and  MeSH vocabulary  online tutorials.

What's in PubMED:

A medical and health sciences database developed at the National Library of Medicine
(NLM) that provides access to and searching of MEDLINE as well as other life science
related databases.   Covers over 140 CSD journal titles.  

Coverage Dates:   Mid 1960s - present.

PubMed  Selected Features:
Journals Database -   for complete names, ISSNs, abbreviations
MeSH Database -   subject headings
Single Citation Matcher -   for missing citation info.
Clinical queries -   to search for clinical studies; systematic reviews (evidence based
         medicine and consensus development conferences); and medical genetics topics
My NCBI (Cubby) -   to save, store and update searches

Related Resources Include:

Clinical Trials.gov -   trials in which patients may be enrolled
TOXNET- toxicology database: (noise-induced hearing loss, drug causing hearing loss)

To search just MEDLINE:

Go to the Limits search screen, scroll down the Subsets drop down box until you get to the More Subsets category and then check the MEDLINE box.      Or, you can search within MEDLINE from the MeSH Database screen.

ATM:   Automatic term mapping.   Words entered are automatically matched against
the MeSH list, journal titles, phrase list, and author index, in this order.   All fields are
searched unless limits are chosen.
 

Boolean operators (connectors):
AND, OR, NOT    
 

Synonyms:  Use OR to connect similar terms. Example: adolescents OR teenagers

NOTE:   ATM feature will help to locate synonyms

Phrase searching - use quotes around phrase.   Example:  "cerebral palsy"
NOTE:   Double quotes turn off ATM.
 

Truncation - Use * at ending of word.     Example:  aphasi*  = aphasia, aphasic, etc.
NOTE:   Truncation turns off ATM.
 

Nesting - for when you use a mixture of operators
"cochlear implant"  AND (adolescen* OR youth OR "high school students") ;
child* AND "cerebral palsy" AND communication
 

Also, explore:

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Limit a search - Click on the "Limits" link below the search box for such options as:

Author    (add name of author to limit search to just that author)
Journal   (add name of specific journal to limit search to just that journal)
Full text   -   Free full text   -  Abstracts   (click on box to limit search to just that option(s). 

WARNING:   If you limit to just   Free full text   you may be missing out on access to many excellent citations to online full text (and/or articles in other formats that the Library owns).   

Other categories include:

Limit Option:                           Possible Choices:

Publication Date                          YYYY/MM/DD

Humans or Animals                      Human

Languages                                   English

Subsets (by journal subjects;
topics)                                         Bioethics

Type of Article                              Clinical Trial
Ages                                           All Infant: birth-23 months

NOTE:    Limits remain in effect until they are turned off.   Look for a message highlighted in yellow, ex.: and click

to change your limit settings.

Search for a particular or latest issue of a journal:   There are a couple of ways to do this.  One way is to:   Start with the   Single Citation Matcher.     Type in the name of the journal and then fill in the Date box - or Volume and/or Issue box.   Your search results will take you to the PubMed search screen where you can add on search words, as needed, in that box. 

NOTE:   Journal citations contain only the abbreviated form of a journal title name
(ex:  Brain dev.)  One way to find out the full, spelled-out title is to:   Copy and paste the journal abbreviation to the   Journal Database browser     (ex:  Brain & development)
 

Search for a single article:   Use Single Citation Matcher
 

Search for an author:   Use last name plus first initial ; with last name only, use
     last name + [au], as in:       ryals [au]   
 

Thesaurus:  Use MeSH Database to find NLM's subject heading MeSH terms,
including definitions, which can be used in a search.  
NOTE:    Keywords can be matched against MeSH terms using ATM.
 

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How to find E-Journal full-text articles:

Look for an icon to a publisher's site in the upper right hand corner (see ex. below):  

and click on that  before   using the

If you cannot gain access to the article after clicking on an icon     OR

if no icon appears in the upper right hand corner:

Click on the link          OR
open a 2nd web browser and search Periodical Locator for the journal.

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