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This video covers tips for using the ProQuest dissertations and theses
database.
Our default is set to the Advanced search page
which has 24 indexed and searchable fields.
The database supports Boolean, proximity, and field code searching,
as well as the use of truncation wild-card.
Other options include limit to full text,
publication date, manuscript type:
and language. Searching in the author field
includes a browsable index. Four database specific fields that also include a
browsable
index are Advisor, University/institution,
subject heading (all) and Index term
(keyword) Results can be sorted by either
relevance or date. You can also control
how many citations are displayed per page. The default is to suppress
duplicates in the
case of multiple records for items in more than one ProQuest database.
As an example suppose we want to find dissertations about
teacher efficacy and student learning at the elementary level in the State of
Texas.
First determine phrases and keywords suitable for your search.
Use quotation marks
for phrase searching. So we start with
"teacher efficacy." Use the Boolean operator
AND to connect phrases or keywords.
And our
keywords elementary and Texas.
We will also limit our results to full text
and to the last two years. And then click on "search."
The results
can be resorted or further narrowed down by using the column on the right,
or you can return to the Advanced Search page
by clicking on "Modify search" at the top. For any record you might select,
click on "Citation/abstract" to look at brief details,
including an abstract of the dissertation
and indexing fields. Click on "Cite"
to get a properly formatted citation for the dissertation.
Note that you may choose
which style that you're using.
Click
on "Full text - PDF" to open the entire dissertation,
and from the document reader page
click on "Back to results" to return to your list.
This has been a brief introduction to using the
ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.
If you have any questions about using this resource please contact a librarian
for help.