Guide to Family Studies Database
Database Description
Family Studies Database is a comprehensive, systematic, and non-evaluative source of the research literature for family-centered social sciences. Its bibliographic records and abstracts are drawn from 800 professional journals and a variety of books. Approximately 6,000 records are added each year. Family Studies Database contains all of the records from the discontinued print index, Inventory of Marriage & Family Literature. For the period 1970-1/90, Family Studies Database provides several subfiles: Idea Bank, works-in-progress, Human Resources Bank, and Family Studies Centers directory. Since 1990, only journals and books are included.
Topics
Family Studies Database covers a wide range of topics impacting family life. Some characteristic topics are:
| adolescents AIDS/HIV families at risk family counseling & education family law family therapy family violence intermarriage | minority groups marriage & divorce organizations & services for the family parenting reproductive issues sexual attitudes & behavior theory & research aids trends & changes in marriage/family work & gender roles |
Accessing the Database
You will find Family Studies Database on any one of three computers in the reference area on Table 7 and 9. The screen may be blank, if so, press the spacebar to "wake-up" the screen. Press the "page-down" key to get to the section of the menu showing Family Studies Database. Highlight Family Studies Database and press enter. This will open the database.
Search Modes
>There are three search modes: novice, advanced, and expert. The computer gives you the novice mode unless you change the mode. There is a User's Guide(Reference Desk HQ 1 .F35 guide) which provides detailed instructions for searching in all modes, displaying, and saving search results.
Novice search mode allows you to search for keywords found in the title, abstract, notes, keyword, and subject heading fields. You can also use "Boolean" operators, AND, OR and, NOT to combine the keywords.
Advanced search mode allows you to indicate which fields to search for the keyword. You can then use the Boolean operators to combine keywords from different fields.
Expert search mode also allows you to create sets which can then be combined using the Boolean operators.
Command Keys
| Esc | Escape, cancels an operation, erases a search line, clears the novice screen closes an index, or exits the database. |
| F1 | Help, gives an explanation for the specific search or command you are currently using. |
| F2 | Opens the word/phrase index. |
| Ctl F2 | Opens the thesaurus. |
| Ins | Insert, types the complete, correctly-spelled word or phrase found in the index into the search field. |
| * | Multi-character wildcard. |
| ? | Single character wildcard. |
| ( ) | Parentheses group synonyms or phrases sharing a common root. |
| Enter | Selects an item from a list or begins a search. |
| F3 | Display, shows a list of the records found. |
| ^ / V | Up arrow, Down arrow, moves to the next or previous record in the list. |
| PgUp/Dn | Page up, page down, moves up or down a screen in the display. |
| Home/End | Moves to the beginning or end of the list or record. |
| Spacebar | Changes the display format to show more or fewer fields. |
| Tab | Marks a record for printing or downloading. |
| F5 | Prints marked records. |
| Alt F5 | Downloads marked records. |
Beginning A Search
Searching is simply a matter of typing in search terms and pressing the Enter key. If you would like to see if a phrase is used or spelled correctly, press F2 to open the index. Type the first few letters of the word or phrase and the computer will move to that section of the index. Press the Insert key to copy the word or phrase highlighted in the index into the search field. The cursor is automatically set in the Basic Search field, so, begin entering keywords. If you plan to connect some terms with OR and others with AND, remember to put ( )'s around the terms connected with OR.
There is a two-line prompt just beneath the search entry screen. These are screen-specific instructions and commands which change as you move to other screens during the search. Keys which are most likely to be used next in the search sequence are highlighted. For instance, after entering a search one would want to display the records, so F3 is highlighted on the prompt line.
This will get you started. For assistance at any point, ask a reference librarian. We would also appreciate your comments on this database, guide, or responses you receive at the desk.
