Features of databases
In this topic, we look at some of the features that you may come across when you use databases. Here is a list of features to look for when you use a database for the first time (NB When you get to the next topic you will find a printable version of this list, with two extra questions, so there is no need to copy the list on this page.)
Some of the answers to the questions below might be made obvious by what you can see on the screen when you get to the front page of the database, but sometimes you will have to look at the online help (if there is any), to assist you. You might not get answers to all the questions you have, but the available answers will help you get to grips generally with how any database works.
| Database checklist |
|---|
| Is there any online help available? |
| Can I do a ‘simple’ search? |
| Can I look at the information in both short and detailed format? |
| Can I choose where in the record I want my search terms to be found? |
| Can I search for phrases? |
| Can I use truncation? |
| Can I do an ‘advanced’ search? |
Reflection Turning your search statement into a search
Imagine we are trying to investigate this search statement:
‘I want to find out about the environment or environmental – impact, effect or consequence of – GM or genetically modified crop or crops.’
How might we amend this statement so that we can enter it into the search facility of a database? Make some notes and then look at the next page to see how we went about doing this.