Using Databases to Create Citations

 

While the library databases all have different interfaces, they all share many common functions. One function they share is the ability to save a list of research results in a style of the user's choice. These instructions show how to generate a list of references with the EBSCO Academic Search Ultimate. I choose EBSCO because it has so many brands that comply with the same interface. Ultimately, this function also serves to let the library database set up your citation styled reference for you.

Purpose: Create a list of research results, saved in the style format that matches specific citational standards

Complete a search in the library database search engine.
Review results. Click the folder icon to add useful articles to a folder. These instructions feature only one result; however, this same procedure can be useful for many results.
Click on the Folder View link on the right side of the EBSCO interface.
From the list of results saved to the folder, select the ones most relevant for further research. Click on the checkbox to indicate the articles you wish to select.
The following step is not for printing. However, the step will yield a list of references formatted in a specified citation style. Click the Print link.
Select the Citation Format radial button. Select MLA from the drop down menu. Click the Print button to create a printable page. NOTE: MLA is the citational style for these instructions but other citational styles are appropriate for specific fields of research.
Click on Cancel in the Print dialog box. The printable view still remains.
Copy/Paste the MLA formatted citation to your paper. If there are more than one citation, they selectively copy/paste the citations to insure references retain alphabetical order on the Works Cited page of your paper.

All instructions and documentation written by:

Dr. Jason Lawrence, M.S., Ph.D.

Theory and Practice of Professional Communication

Artificial Intelligence writers, Internal Documentation, and Emergent Texts
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