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BME 637

How to Access Library Resources

Scholarly Articles

 

In this section, you will learn about the NAU Cline Library’s web page and how to access articles.

Online Articles: Search your topic using the library's databases to find full-text articles. First, go to the Cline Library's website at http://library.nau.edu  and then click on the link to "Databases by Subject". From this list select the Sociology databases under "Psychology, Social Work and Sociology".

Library webpage database list

 

 

  Sage Journals Online .  Scroll down the page and select the database titled Sage Journals Online. Once in the database enter your search terms, such as “Latin America and poverty,”. Next, click the search button.

example of search bar on Sage Journals

 Review the results list of articles and select articles that are relevant to your research. Try different search terms if you are not getting the articles you need and then review the revised results.  Once you find a relevant article, email the article to yourself and you also have the option to export the citation to the citation management tool RefWorks.  This is a time saving resource to use as you explore the databases and find relevant research articles you can export each citation. This allows you to compile a list of citations for your reference page which can be easily formatted in APA style.

As you open the .pdf file for the article you will see a menu on the right side of the screen with the option to email the article and to "download to citation manager". If you need assistance with any of these resources, just Ask a Librarian!

menu to manage citations

 Try your own search and explore the databases.

Cline Library has over 175 databases. Try other databases and refining your searches. You can use: JSTOR. SAGE Journals Online, ScienceDirect,  and others addressing the topic of Latin America.

 

Databases

Click here for a list recommended databases for Latin America.

Keyword Searching in Database

How to decide which keywords to use when searching the article databases-

 

Identify the key concepts about your topic:

  • Think of words to express your topic.
  • Consider alternative words.
  • Think about the words the author may use.

Example: I want to research whether children choose food based on advertising.

Keywords: food, advertising, children

  • Combine your concepts with AND to narrow your search.
  • Combine your concepts with OR to broaden your search.

Venn-diagram of narrowing and broadening searches using AND and OR

food AND advertising AND children

This type of search returns fewer and more specific results

 

food OR adversting OR children

This type of search returns many results

 

If you have trouble finding articles, you can brainstorm alternate words for your concepts. Consider synonyms, alternative spellings, variant endings (e.g., health, healthy, healthier, etc.) and acronyms.

Food Advertising Children
Frozen Food     Commercials Families
Beverages Computers in advertising Age groups
Convenience foods Cartoons Gender