ATLA RELIGION

DATABASE WITH

SERIALS

How to get to the databases

if on campus On the library webpage,

look for Research and click on the

heading.

Click on the link for databases.

Electronic Databases

You can choose All Databases or

Databases by Academic Discipline

Scroll down the webpage down to find the ATLA database and click on the link.

How to get to the databases if OFF

CAMPUS

From the library

homepage: Look

for Off Campus

Users on the left

side menu and

click on the

heading.

You next step should look like this. Click

on databases.

Click on the tab for STVU OFF CAMPUS

Scroll down until you see ATLA Religion Database with ATLAserials.

Click on the link.

Enter your VUU email user name and

password

This should take you directly to the database.

Best practices

Identifying key words in your thesis statement/research question is the first step in formulating a search strategy in a database.

Example: Research question/thesis: How effective is the use of technology in the Christian education of adolescents with Asperger’s Syndrome?

Keywords: Technology Classroom Adolescents Asperger’s Syndrome

These are the words you put in the search box. Not the entire research question.

Identify alternative terms, synonyms, and variations to those keywords Technology—computer(s)-pc’s-laptop(s)—tablet(s) Classroom—school—educational setting—teaching space Adolescent(s)--juvenile(s)- -young adult--teenager(s) Asperger’s Syndrome—Autism—High-functioning autism—Autism Spectrum Disorder

Tips for database searching

Databases are literal. If you ask it to search “baby” it WILL NOT search

for infant, child, babies, or newborn.

Truncation: use an asterisk*

For example, type comput* to find the words computer or computing.

Wildcard: Use a question mark?

when you don’t know the exact spelling. Sm?th for Smith or Smyth

Phrase searching: use double quotation marks to keep words together.

“Croatian politics”

Check the boxes for full text and scholarly to save time.

Boolean operators:

AND, OR, & NOT

Use OR for the broadest search. Teenagers OR Adolescents OR “young

adults”

AND includes additional terms to be included in the search. The

records search must include both terms.

theology AND art AND painting.

NOT narrows or eliminates terms to be searched.

theology NOT doctrine NOT dogma

Use OR for the broadest search. Teenagers OR Adolescents OR “young adults”

AND includes additional terms to be included in the search.

The records search must include both terms: theology AND art AND

painting.

NOT narrows or eliminates terms to be searched.

theology NOT doctrine NOT dogma

When you click on an article, you will be taken to a record like this. The full

text link is on the left.

Searching for specific scriptures

When using the scripture

search function, remember that

to reach a specific chapter and

verse to click on “expand”

instead of the chapter.

The next three slides show you

the process for looking for

articles on Genesis Chapter

one, verse one.

Using limiters will refine your search

and bring a list of articles more

relevant to your needs.

If your research requires peer

reviewed journals, check that box.

If short on time, check the Full Text

box.

You can also tell the database to

limit the date, depending on your

research needs.

By using limiters,

we went from

1,253 articles on

Genesis 1:1 to

232 articles. A

more manageable

number.

Additional useful tools in the ATLA database

Folder

Citation tool

Add other EBSCO databases to your searches

App

The ATLA database allows you to create a temporary folder into you can put articles

that you are interested in. Click on the folder icon by each article you want to place in

the folder.

After choosing and saving the articles to the folder, click on the folder at

the top of the database page. You will see the folder contents and a list of

options will be listed on the right.

When you click on an article, there are several tools listed on the right.

One of these is a citation tool.

A box will pop up with the citation for the article in a variety of styles.

You can also add

additional databases

to your search. Click

on the link

Choose Databases.

Finally, you can download an app to your mobile devices. Scroll to the bottom of

the ATLA database page and click on iPhone and Android apps.

Any questions? Feel free to contact me or for assistance.

Kay Darling

Theological Librarian

L. Douglas Wilder Library

Virginia Union University

804-257-5723

svdarling@vuu.edu