ProQuest Direct – Basic Search
To access ProQuest, go to the library’s web site http://dept.sccd.ctc.edu/nslib and click on the
link periodical databases, under Search for Articles. Click on ProQuest. Type in the main
keywords for your topic. The example below shows a search for articles on accounting fraud
and reform.
Creating a Search Strategy
When searching a database, select a few of the most important keywords that describe your
topic. Link these with Boolean operators, such as AND and OR.
AND Operator
Use the AND operator to link main concepts or keywords. Linking keywords with AND means
that all the keywords or phrases must be present in the article. Using the AND operator
narrows your search. Examples:
accounting and fraud and reform
arthur andersen and enron
sarbanes-oxley and reform
OR Operator
Use the OR operator to link synonyms or related terms. Using the OR operator broadens your
search. Examples:
fraud or scandals
enron or worldcom
North Seattle Community College Library
http://dept.sccd.ctc.edu/nslib
Combining Operators (Nesting)
You can combine keywords linked with AND and keywords linked with OR. This is called
nesting. For example:
accounting and (fraud or scandal)
accounting and (fraud or scandal*)
When linking keywords with AND and OR, put the keywords linked with OR inside parentheses.
This tells the database to run that search first and then combine it with the keyword linked
with AND. The asterisk * after scandal is called a truncation symbol. It acts like a wildcard and
will search on scandal or scandals.
Results Page
After you run your search, you will get a list of articles. Some are available full text, (either
as HTML files or PDF) while others are available only as an abstract (summary.)
Print or Email Your Articles
You can print or email articles to yourself, using the yellow buttons at the top of the article
screen.
Accessing ProQuest from Off Campus
You can access ProQuest from anywhere on the campus network, without a password. From
off campus, access ProQuest through the library’s home page
<http://dept.sccd.ctc.edu/nslib>. After clicking on ProQuest, you’ll logon using your last name
and student ID (SID.)
North Seattle Community College Library
http://dept.sccd.ctc.edu/nslib