How To Take Advantage Of A Good Thesis Dissertation Database


To write a decent dissertation or thesis, you’ll need to search for relevant sample papers. Electronic databases are very good sources that you can use. However, even when you have access to a database, there is no guarantee that you’ll find decent examples if you don’t know how to use databases effectively. Here are some tips that you should follow.

  1. Make a list of keywords.

    2. Looking for papers on particular topics, you should type keywords that relate to these topics into a search engine. Pick a few main terms and think about their synonyms, broader or narrower terms, and other keywords that can be associated with them.

  2. Select good databases.

    3. It’s advisable not to look for dissertation or thesis examples on free online databases and libraries. The quality of documents that you can download from such sites is usually very low. Use databases and catalogs that relate to specific areas of expertise.

    Start with general keywords.

    You shouldn’t start searching by using very accurate terms. Begin with general terms that relate to your topic. It’ll be easier to narrow your search in a particular direction when you have the initial list of relevant papers.

  3. Use advanced search.

    4. Advanced search will allow you to look for samples by combining several concepts that are related to your research.

  4. Take advantage of subject headings.

    5. Every paper in a database has a subject heading that connects it to other papers under the same subject heading. Find a paper or two that directly relate to your topic. Their subject headings can help you find more useful examples.

  5. Use Boolean operators.

    6. When combining two or more search terms, you’ll need to use so-called “Boolean operators.” There are three operators: AND, OR, and NOT. Using the operator AND, you’ll find dissertations that relate to both keywords that you’ve typed. Using the operator OR, you’ll find theses that relate to any keywords that you’ve typed. Using the operator NOT, you’ll find papers that relate to the first keyword, but don’t relate to the second.

  6. Use limiting.

    7. You may also set various limits for your search. For example, you may look only for papers that were written not earlier than the last two years. You may also focus your search on papers that were created by students of a particular university. A database might have a great variety of limitations that can make your search more focused and easier.

Follow these tips and you’ll be likely to find a lot of good examples using databases.

 
 
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