Using EBSCOhost

The Basic Search lets you create a search using a variety of search methods.

  1. Enter your search terms in the Find field and select any limiters or expanders that you want to apply to your terms. You can use Boolean operators within your search.

  2. Click Search. Your search results are displayed.

Using Boolean Operators and Truncation

  • And - combines search terms so that each search result contains all of the terms. For example, education and technology finds articles that contain both terms.

  • Or - combines search terms so that each search result contains at least one of the terms. For example, education or technology finds results that contain either term.

  • Not - excludes terms so that each search result does not contain any of the terms that follow it. For example, education not technology finds results that contain the term education but not the term technology.

  • Truncation is represented by an asterisk (*). To use truncation, enter the root of a search term and replace the ending with an *. EBSCOhost finds all forms of that word.

To start a new search you can: use the Clear button or the Backspace key to delete your terms and enter new terms; click a different tab or sub-toolbar button; or click New Search from the Utility Toolbar. You can also click on the tab you are already on to clear your search terms and start over.

Viewing the Results List

  • When EBSCOhost performs a search, a results list opens. This is the information retrieved from the databases that are searched. Search results can be citations, full text, or abstracts.

  • Each result is numbered, and the available formats for the article are displayed--HTML Full Text, PDF Full text, or Linked Full Text. Click the linked page numbers (or forward/backward arrows) to move through the Results List.

  • The article title is a hyperlink to the best view. To view a different format, click on any of the icons listed below the title.

  • Some databases present results by source type. For example, if you want to view only the magazines found, click the magazines icon or link.

  • For each result, the folder icon is displayed to the far right. If you want to collect several articles, click the Add folder icon for the article. As you add the articles to the folder, you can click View Folder and review which items have been added.

Viewing the Full Record

Citation View
When the citation view is displayed, it may also include a summary or an abstract. Your original keywords are highlighted throughout the record. The full text of the article may appear below the citation.

  • The author and subject of the record can appear as links that let you perform a search of that particular field.

  • The source may display a link or journal logo that leads to a detailed view of the source or publication. Clicking on the journal logo links you to a detailed description of the journal. Clicking Back returns you to the full record of the article.

  • The source may also include a table of contents link that lets you perform a search on the same issue of the source or publication.

HTML Full Text View

When the HTML full text view is displayed, you can also return to the citation, or any PDF or linked text by clicking on the available icons. The text is displayed formatted and ready for printing. A brief citation is always included at the end of the article.

PDF View

When the PDF view is displayed, the article opens in the Adobe Acrobat Reader. To print the article, use the print capability available from the Reader. You can also return to the citation, any full text, or linked text by clicking on the available icons.

Linked Full Text View

EBSCOhost links to full text articles from other EBSCOhost databases or from electronic journals subscribed to through EBSCO Subscription Services and Electronic Journals Service.