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Spanish 3503-Introduction to Hispanic Literature: Database Search Tips

Database Search Tips

  1. Be prepared with synonyms in case your original search produces no results. If the database offers a link to a thesaurus or subject terms tab, use it to locate additional or related words for your search terms.
  2. Pay attention to search tips or help screens provided by each database. Take the time to learn how to use the tool - it will help you to avoid frustration!
  3. Remember that most databases allow for Boolean Searching (see the video in this guide). Use and to narrow, or to expand, not to exclude. Truncation is also useful for bringing back all relevant results. For example, type counsel* to bring back documents containing the words counsel, counseling, counselor...
  4. Review the database search screen for a Thesaurus or Subject Terms tab or link.
  5. Review articles, the references with this article, look for sections listing key words or subject terms, and relationships to your focus on the topic.

Limiters

Depending on the database, it may offer a variety of ways to limit your results:

  • Full Text
  • Scholarly or Peer Reviewed
  • Publication  or Document Type (journal articles, book reviews, reports)
  • Published Date

For articles that are not available in full text, use the InterLibrary Loan service.

Controlled Vocabulary

Most databases use a controlled vocabulary to organize information and make browsing more efficient and specific to chosen terms. When building your search string, consider keywords, synonyms or related terms. When searching for information about an authors work, consider combining the authors name and a keyword from the works title. As some databases may or may not have articles on your topic, consider searching multiple databases simultaneously. EBSCO offers an integrated search, which will search all of the NSU subscribed EBSCO databases at once. See video on this page for an illustration.

The Library Discovery system will search databases and the library collection as well as worldwide libraries simultaneously when using the "Everything" tab.

Combine or group terms or concepts using the Boolean operator "AND" to refine your search string: esmeralda santiago AND woman or try the search string: rigoberta menchu  AND me llamo. Check to see if the database offers a Thesaurus or a Subject Terms tab or link (in the blue header of the page). For instance, the database Academic Search Premier offers a "Subject Terms" tab, and the ERIC database features a "Thesaurus" tab (see the examples below). Enter terms in the Browsing box to see how the database recognizes them.

Periodicals

Listed below is a small sampling of periodicals with information about Spanish Literature or Spanish Studies, Latino Literature or Latin American Literature. Search by publication title using the Library Discovery system's  "Everything" tab and "Advanced Search" option. For additional periodicals, look for a "Publications" tab featured in many of the EBSCO databases or check JSTOR database, "Advanced Search" for its "Journal Filter" and narrow by discipline or journal. (EX. Latin American Studies 55 titles)

  • Bulletin of Spanish Studies - (peer-reviewed)
  • Hispania
  • Hispanic Review - (peer-reviewed)
  • Hispanic Poetry Review - Open Access Journal
  • La Perinola - (peer-reviewed)
  • Studies in 20th Century Literature - (peer-reviewed)
  • Voz y Letra - (not - peer-reviewed)
  • ​Hispamerica

EBSCOHost Folders

Boolean Operators - Tutorial

Searching Multiple Databases

YouTube video created by NSU Libraries on how to search multiple EBSCOhost databases simultaneously.