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Database tutorials

Learn how to search selected databases

Database tutorials

McGrawHillPro. (2019, August 27). AccessEngineering Searching & Filtering [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/R1jb-AYl-Qc

Elsevier for Engineering. (2020). Engineering Village for Academia: Quick search tips and strategies for students [Video]. https://youtu.be/EDlAL6RMxlU?si=khiAp9NI8zS4-yH2

 

More detailed tutorials are available from the Elsevier for Engineering YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@elsevierforengineering 

The Engineering Village LibGuide: Getting started & access guide contains lots of important information on using this platform.

IEEE Xplore. (2020, May 12). Basic Search in IEEE Xplore [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/oXzHKtaNnlU

Further guidance is available within IEEE's Xplore Resources and Help

Informit. (2020, December 2). Informit - New platform overview [Video]. https://youtu.be/cEjWz2j0HKw

Use the timestamps to skip to the topic of interest.

These include: Login, Searching, Saving results, Exporting citations and Personalisation features.

Elsevier for Engineering. (2021). Knovel Overview [Video]. https://youtu.be/nd1GhX4sR7I?si=b82PW483zDpMVjed

More detailed tutorials are available from the Elsevier for Engineering YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@elsevierforengineering 

The Knovel LibGuide: Getting started & access guide includes a QuickStart guide, instruction on printing and exporting data, using features such as the Interactive Equations and Unit Converter, overviews of the different discipline's content, and downloading and using the Knovel mobile app. 

A range of tutorials are available from the Scopus tutorial page.

These include:

Using Google Scholar

Set up Google Scholar preferences to find items held by La Trobe University Library when you are searching off campus.

Search tips

  • Check the Advanced search strategies on the Databases and Journals tab
  • Consider differences in American English and Australian English spelling
  • If a word is sometimes hyphenated, search using the hyphen and find both terms
  • Limits will refine your search results: language, human, gender, age, date or type of publication
  • Check the database Help or Tips to find advice on which symbol to use for truncation or wildcard, and provide other helpful tips

Stay current

Areas of study and research are constantly changing as research takes place and new knowledge is gained. Setting up alerts will help you to keep up to date. You can set up alerts to be notified when:

  • a newly published article matches your search strategy
  • key journals in your area publish a new issue
  • an article of interest is referenced or cited in new publications or articles

See the Alerts for researchers guide for more information