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Unit 4 Assessment- Exploring Databases and Creating a Research Strategy
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Exploring Databases and Being Strategic When Conducting Research
Part 1: Exploring the Databases
1. Go the Canvas Student Resource center and access the Library. Find the Databases section and select the Go to A-Z
List icon.
How many databases are in the list? 140 Databases
2. Change the All Subjects menu dropdown to correspond to your field of study at Herzing.
(For example if you are an Accounting major, select Business; if you are a Criminal Justice major, select Public Safety; if
you are a Medical Assistant major, select Healthcare; if you are a Nursing major, select Nursing, etc.)
List your field of study/major at Herzing University: Medical Assisting
List the corresponding subject from All Subjects dropdown: Health Care
How many databases are in the list? 46 Databases
3. Go back to the Databases section of the Library and notice that the same Subjects are listed. Once again, select your
subject area; browse the list of databases available.
If you were assigned to write a paper about the most current issue facing your profession, which database would you
select to conduct research on this topic and why?
Database name: Health and Wellness
Explain why you chose this database: Health and Wellness database seems like a good choice for researching the most
current issue facing my profession. This database offers a wide range of medical reference materials from various
sources, including health/medical journals, pamphlets, videos, and general interest publications. This broad range of
sources may provide diverse perspectives and insights on the current issue facing my profession, allowing me to develop
a well-rounded understanding of the topic. Besides, the inclusion of 700 health-related videos may be particularly useful
for gaining a visual understanding of the issue at hand.
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4. Go back to the A to Z list. Once again, select Clear Filters.
Using the “Letter” menu select “P” to jump to that section, and scroll until you find ProQuest Central and select it.
This database will open up to the Basic Search Page.
Enter search terms related to a medical topic of your choice.
List your keywords/search terms: Wellness, Health, Artificial Intelligence, Technology
5. Click on the “I” next to Peer Reviewed.
What process do peer-reviewed publications go through?
Peer-reviewed publications go through an official editorial process that involves review and approval by the author's
peers who are experts in the same subject area. This process is intended to ensure that the published articles meet
certain academic and scientific standards and are based on reliable and accurate research.
Who authors scholarly journals?
Scholarly journals are authored by individuals who are experts in a particular field of study, such as professors,
researchers, or other professionals who have advanced knowledge in their subject area.
6. Check the box next to Peer Reviewed (for this step leave Full Text unchecked) and run your search.
How many results are displayed? 2907 results
7. Now limit to “full-text” by doing one of the following: either check the box for full-text and hit search OR look for Full-
Text in the left margin under Narrow results and click that.
How many results are displayed after applying this limit? 2729 results
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8. Scroll down to below where you are allowed to adjust the date range, on the left-hand side of the screen. What is
listed there are ways you can narrow your search. Please list two of these options.
List two options: Publication title, Subject
9. Find a result that is of interest to you and select the blue title words to reveal more details about the article.
In this view of the article notice the tools at the right for downloading the PDF (if available) as well as Cite, Email, Print,
and Save. Select “Cite”
Explain what the Cite button does: The "Cite" button on an article library typically generates a citation for the selected
article in a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). The citation is a reference to the source material that
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provides information on the author, title, publication date, and other key details of the article that will allow readers to
locate and retrieve it.
Click Cancel.
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10. Close out of this database and return to the A to Z List. Once again, select Clear Filters.
In the “All Subjects” drop-down menu, select Business. You will see a “Best Bets!” section at the top of the list, these are
the most relevant databases related to that subject matter.
Select Business Source Complete - Ebsco from the list.
11. Business Source Complete opens up to the Advanced Search Screen
Enter search terms related to a business topic of your choice (example advertising and sports).
List your keywords/search terms: Supply Chain, Marketing
In the Limit your results section, check the boxes for Full Text and Scholarly (Peer-Reviewed) Journals and run your
search.
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List the number of search results: 5 results
12. On the results list, using the Limit to options on the left side of the screen move the “date slider” to change the date
range of your results. Set the date range from 2010 to the present.
List the new number of search results: 3 results
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13. Select any article by clicking on the title. Notice the Tool options on the right side of the screen.
List two of the tools available: Print, E-mail
14. Close out of this database and return to the A to Z List. Once again, select Clear Filters.
Using strategies you have learned so far find and select Films on Demand.
Search for “study skills” by titles (default).
List one of the Films on Demand titles from the results list.
Mysteries of Mental Illness
15. Did you know about Guides from the HU Library that contain links to the HU Library databases? Go back to the
Library area in the Canvas Student Resource Center and look for the Guides section. Select a Guide of interest to you and
provide your selection:
Anatomy and Physiology
Select the Find Articles Tab (select another guide if your first choice does not include this tab) and list one of the
databases from that you find:
Health and Wellness - Gale
Feel free to go back and explore any of these resources. Remember when you have questions on database selection and
using the tools, please contact the Herzing University Librarians. They are here to assist you and all Herzing University
Students.
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Part 2: Being Strategic When Conducting Research
Now we will focus on the topic you have developed in the prior units. This activity will set you up for success as you use
the library databases to research your topic in our next unit.
16. Enter the thesis
statement you have The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in
formulated for your topic. healthcare is transforming the industry by enhancing diagnosis accuracy, supporting
predictive analytics, and improving clinical decision-making processes, ultimately
leading to improved patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare delivery.
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Analytics, Healthcare, Technology
17. Keywords: (What are the
main words that describe your
subject and what you want to
say about it?)
Wellness, Deep learning, AI, Data
18. Synonyms: (What other
words can you use that mean
the same thing as your
keywords?) Using synonyms
EXPANDS your search.
Diagnosis, Wellness, Improving Patient outcomes, Health Care Delivery
19. Narrower Terms: (What
are some specific things you
want to know about the
keywords?)
Patient outcomes and Health Care Delivery
20. Boolean strategies:
List one Boolean search
strategy you could use to
broaden or narrow your
search.
Example: “Marketing AND
bakeries”
Example: “Cars OR
automobiles"
Hint: See the next page for some search strategy reminders
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21. Indicate two (2) Herzing University Library databases you will use to search for your topic:
Database #1: Computer Science Database - ProQuest
Database #2: Science & Technology databases - ProQuest
22. Identify one (1) source (article, e-Book, video, etc.) you locate that addresses your topic. Include title, author, date of
publication, which database you located it in.
Title:
Exploitation of Emerging Technologies and Advanced Networks for a Smart Healthcare System
Author:
Minopoulos et a.l
Date: 2022
Database: Computer Science Database
23. Please describe your experience completing the library search in Part 1 of the assignment. What did you learn that
you did not know before? What seemed particularly useful? Then, do the same for Part 2. How does identifying search
terms, databases and a source move you forward in your research process? How will this be useful?
Upon completing the library search in Part 1 of the assignment, I gained valuable skills in navigating library databases
and resource centers. Specifically, I found out the Herzing University library databases to be the most helpful for finding
scholarly journals relevant to my research topic. Through the process of identifying search terms, databases, and
resources, I gained knowledge on how to effectively conduct research related to their chosen topic. This knowledge
included refining their search strategy by using specific keywords and filters, selecting appropriate databases to search,
and identifying reliable sources. These skills can be applied to future research projects to save time and increase the
quality of information found.
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Use Linking Words and Symbols for Precise Results
Boolean Logic Searching – Great Search Strategy for Precise Results:
AND = documents include both one word and another. This narrows your focus.
OR = documents include one word or the other. Use with synonyms. This broadens focus.
NOT = eliminates documents with even one occurrence of the word. Use this cautiously!
Check to see if you can use a wildcard to catch multiple endings. This is also call truncation. For example, work* might
get work, worked, working, work, workers. Look for Search Tips or Help on the search screen to see which symbol is
used in the database or search engine you are using.
Use parenthesis for grouping or nesting terms together.
Here is a sample search: research and (skills or strateg*)
It will retrieve:
1. All documents retrieved will have the word research AND all documents will have some form of the
word with strateg as the root. For example, strategy, strategies, strategize would all be found and
included in my results list.
2. OR All documents retrieved will have the word research AND the word skills.
Most databases use Boolean linking words. So, if you entered in the search research skills without an AND connector,
you would only be searching for the exact phrase research skills. You would not get occurrences such as skills in
research or research and writing skills. Some databases have the option to use Boolean or not. Check out the
“Advanced” search function or the Help and Search Tips links in the database.