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Database Search Tips

This guide will help get you started in some of our most popular databases! Happy searching! Let us know if we can help.

About

Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a database for education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education

Most useful for:

  • Learning and education (pre-K - college)
  • Psychology of teaching/learning, and more

Getting Started

Basic Searching Instructions

Searching with Keywords

1. Enter words or phrases that describe your topic in the search box. Put each unique concept in a separate box.

2. Combine keywords using AND or OR from the drop-down beside the search boxes.

3. Click Search.

 

A screenshot of ERIC's search boxes, with the keyword's "medical students," "curriculum," and "studying" filled in them.

 

Combining your Search terms

OR will find references with any of the search terms. Use OR to broaden your search.

AND will find references with all the search terms. Use AND to narrow your search.

 

Search History (Combining search results)

Click on the Search History link (under the search boxes) to display your searches or search sets. Check the box beside each set you wish to include in the search. Then click on the Search with AND or Search with OR button. (Note: Before combining sets, make sure the search boxes above the search history are clear!)

 

A screenshot of the search history with two searches selected, and a red arrow pointing to the "Search with OR" button

Steps to Find Full-Text Articles

If you are unable to find full-text articles using the links below, you will need to order it via InterLibrary Loan (Step #3).

Before making a request for full-text articles through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), please try steps #1 and #2 to search for the full-text. This allows our service to focus on articles that are not available for free nor via our Duke subscriptions. Our Interlibrary Loan service is no charge to Duke borrowers for all article requests. If there are copyright or other fees associated with your article request, we will contact you.

  1. Find the article citation in a database: If you aren't already in a database, go back to PubMed or other database such as CINAHL, Embase, or Web of Science to look up the article. Why? Because our Get it @ Duke button will fill out the ILL form for you with all the article information – this saves you time and ensures greater citation accuracy.
  2. Click the GetIt@Duke button: Once you locate the article in a citation database, click the Get It @ Duke link.
  3. Select second button to request as Med Center User: From the page that says “We don't have this online — see below for other ways to get it” click the green button that says “Request – Med Center users.”
  4. Log on with your DHE / NetID username and password: This will take you to the ILL form. The article information will be filled into the form automatically. Scroll to the bottom, verify accuracy, and click submit.

If you can't find the citation in a database or you don't see a GetIt@Duke button, you can place a request manually through our interlibrary loan service. Follow the steps below.

Questions about Interlibrary Loan? All interlibrary loan questions should go to Louis Wiethe, Document Delivery & Interlibrary Loan Manager, 919.660.1179 or louis.wiethe@duke.edu

Contact the Medical Library

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medical-librarian@duke.edu