FAU Library
Catalog: click on
“Catalog” or “Books”. The following types of basic searches are
available:
A. Search
for Keyword(s): Searches for terms anywhere they appear in the
catalog record. Search terms can be truncated with a ? e.g.
addict? will search for addicts, addiction, etc.
B. Browse
Organized Lists: Use this search when you already know an
author, title or subject heading. Some of the available options
include:
-
Author’s Name: last name
first, you don’t need to capitalize
-
Title: if a title starts
with “The,” “A,” or “An,” omit that and skip to the next word
-
Subject, LC: must be
entered in a very specific manner. You may get a
cross-reference, for example: social work gives a cross
reference to use “social service.” If you’re not finding
anything with a subject search try a keyword search instead.
C. Journals/Serials:
This search lets you know if the Library has a certain journal or
magazine. However, it does not search for articles in journals. To
do this, use a database instead (see below). After searching for a
journal title, click on the “Location” line to see which dates the
Library owns. (Note: not all electronic journals are cataloged in
the online catalog. There is also a link to a separate list of all
electronic journals available at FAU.)
The
Advanced search screen allows you to combine terms using
“and, or, not” as well as limiting a search by location, date,
format, or language.
II. Searching for articles in databases
To search for articles click on
“Indexes/Databases” or “Articles.” There are both alphabetical and
subject listings of databases. The Library provides access to the
two major social work databases:
SocINDEX with Full Text and
Social Services Abstracts. In addition, there are a number
of databases available on related topics: social sciences,
psychology, criminal justice, law, etc.
The SFX button available in most of the
databases will search for the full text of an article in all of the
databases the FAU Library subscribes to.
III. Peer Review
In academia, one of the current
trends is to use peer reviewed articles, those that go trough a
strong editorial process. Here are some sites that
help with that concept and help select a data base that allows this
choice.
Cline
This link, from the Cline library at Northern Arizona
University, gives good explanation of the concept of peer
review and how to find effected journals.
How
This How link - as in how-to-find - peer reviewed materials from
Idaho State, is useful because it lists alphabetically data bases
that allow for peer reviewed filtration. Many of the data
bases are similar to ours, especially for this class.
Walden
Another good explanation of all this. This time, from
the virtual folks at Walden University.
IV. Databases
Academic Search Premier
A very large interdisciplinary database
which allows the option of limiting searches to refereed journals
only, search results with full-text only, or both.
JSTOR
An archive of full-text scholarly
journals. Does not include most recent five years, but has complete
back files.
Project Muse
100+ scholarly journals in humanities, mathematics
and social science disciplines.
PsycArticles
Contains the full text of articles from
APA journals and selected EPF journals, most from 1988 to the
present.
PsycINFO
Produced by the American Psychological
Association, PsycINFO covers the professional and academic
literature in psychology and related disciplines.
SocINDEX with Full Text
The world's most
comprehensive and highest quality sociology research database. The
database features more than 1,660,000 records with subject headings
from a 19,300 term sociological thesaurus designed by subject
experts and expert lexicographers. This data base replaced the older
Social Work Abstracts.
Social Services Abstracts
Provides bibliographic coverage of
current research focused on social work, human services, and related
areas, including social welfare, social policy, and community
development.
Social Sciences Full Text
Covers some 350 core periodicals in the
fields of anthropology, economics, geography, law and criminology,
political science, social work, sociology, and international
relations.
Sociological Abstracts
CSA Sociological Abstracts abstracts
and indexes the international literature in sociology and related
disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences.
V.
Citing your References
APA Style:
Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Manual
(Ref BF 76.7 P83 2001)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
MLA Style:
MLA Handbook
for Writers of Research Papers
(Ref LB 2369 G53 2003)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
VI. Need
more help?
Reference Email: “Ask
a Librarian” form
Reference
Instant Messaging
Reference Telephone 561-297-3785
Reference Consultations: meet with a librarian to receive
individualized help
http://www.library.fau.edu/eforms/refcon.htm
