For directions on how to use InfoTrac's Advanced "PowerTrac" search mode to search for topics with multiple concepts, click here.

1. Link to http://www.searchbank.com/searchbank/plan_skyline. If you are using a computer at Skyline, CSM or Cañada library or at any public library in San Mateo County, skip to step 2.

1a. If you are using a computer somewhere other than at the libraries listed above, enter your Library Card Number from your PLAN library card (Peninsula Library System) in the entry box. (Be sure to click in the box before you type your number.) [See example.]

2. Select a database from the Database List by clicking on the blue underlined words, for example: "Academic ASAP". [See example.]

3. Click in the entry box, type in a word or words for a general research topic and then press Enter or click the "Search" button. [See example.]

4. All of the subject headings that include the words you entered will then be displayed. Before you select any heading, look at all of the subjects listed. There are three different types of links (blue underlined words) that may be displayed after different subject headings.

• A "see" link indicates that the subject displayed above is not an official subject heading in the InfoTrac database and it indicates that the word(s) shown after the "see" is the correct subject heading to use.
  Click on a "see" link to link to the correct subject heading. [See example.]
• A "see also" link indicates that either:
  • the articles on the subject heading displayed above are divided into more specific aspects, called "subdivisions." The number of subdivisions for that subject is listed after the "see also".
    If subdivisions are available for a subject you want to research, it is usually helpful to display the subdivisions since they make it easier to find articles on just the aspects of the subject in which you are most interested.
    Click on a "see also" link that is followed by "subdivisions" to display a list of those subdivisions.[See example.]
    -OR-
  • additional articles on subjects related to the subject heading displayed above are listed under other "related" subject headings. The number of "related subjects" for that heading is listed after the "see also".
    "Related" subject headings often give you ideas for other subject headings that might have useful articles on your topic, but that you might not have thought of.
    Click on a "see also" link that is followed by "related subjects" to display a list of those related subjects. [See example.]
• A "view" link indicates that the subject displayed above is an official subject and the number of articles available in the database for that subject is listed after the "view".
  Click on a "view" link to view a list of citations for the articles on that subject. [See example.]

If the subject words do not match any official subject headings, Searchbank will display a list of citations for any articles that include your subject key words in the record.

If none of the displayed subject headings or citations are relevant to your research subject, click on the "Back" button in the upper left corner of the screen and then enter different word(s) for the same subject or try a broader subject.

5. If you view a citation list that is relatively long, a "Limit Search" icon will usually be displayed at the top of the list. [See example.]
Click on this icon to display a selection of various ways to narrow your search. [See example.] You can:

• confine the search results to full-text articles only,
• confine the search results to refereed publications (higher quality scholarly journals) only
• limit your search to a specific publication date or date range,
• limit your search to a specific publication, or
• add one or more key words to the current search.

6. Each citation on the citations list provides basic information about the article (article title, author, name and date of the periodical and the pages of the article) and indicates whether the database includes the full text (and graphics, if available) of the article or an abstract (summary) of the article.
To view the full record for any article, click on the "view" link for that citation.

7. When you view the full record of any article that you think is very relevant to your research topic, you can click on the "Explore" icon at the top left of the page to list a set of subject headings that are links to all other records that have any of the same subject headings as this article. You can then click on any of the subject heading links to list all of the records for that subject. This is a very good method to find additional articles on topics that are similar to the first article.

8. To print the full record or to download the full record to floppy disk, click on the "Retrieve" icon at the top left of the full record display to show your options for obtaining a copy of the record you're viewing.

The most common selection is "Browser Print", which is for printing (or downloading) the record using your Web browser (typically Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer.)

Click on the Reformat link to display the record again with any graphics rendered at full size and in the correct position. Be sure to wait until your browser indicates that the document is done.

• To print, pull down your browser's File menu and select "Print..." (or click on the "Print" button if there is one) to print what you see.
  
  
• To download to disk, pull down your browser's File menu and select "Save As..."

These materials may be used for educational purposes if you inform and credit the author and cite the source as: LSCI 105 Computerized Research. All commercial rights are reserved. To contact the author, send comments or suggestions to: Eric Brenner at brenner@smcccd.cc.ca.us