GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning Online) is a comprehensive database that provides access to hundreds of full-text databases, including links to Georgia library catalogues, periodicals, newspapers, etc.  Nearly every article written in the last 15 years and published in a credible research journal can be accessed free of charge to all enrolled students in Georgia.
 

FOR  YOUR  INFORMATION

The password for Spring 2004 is colorcast.

NOTE: You do not need any password if you access GALILEO on a Georgia college campus.
 
 

Enter GALILEO One of Three Ways:
 

(1)  ON campus, access the Sturgis Library homepage (click “Library Rsources” to reach the GALILEO link): http://www.kennesaw.edu/library ;   (2)  OFF campus, access GALILEO directly: http://www.galileo.peachnet.edu ; or   (3)  Access GALILEO through the Composition Resource Center, located under “Course Information”):         http://ksuweb.kennesaw.edu/~shagin/CRC.html.

 

FOR  YOUR  INFORMATION

Call the Sturgis Library Reference Desk at 770-423-6325 if you have questions using the system.  The library can also tell you next semester’s off-campus code word.
 
 

Getting to Know GALILEO:

You can access information through by entering the any one of the databases, such as EBSCOhost or ProQuest.  Every database contains a different type of search engine, ranging from a basic article or name search to more elaborate, multi-leveled search tools.  Therefore, one of the best experiences that you can have now is trying out some of these search engines.  The next section will guide you through four sample searches on typical college freshmen essay topics.
 

HOW TO DO THIS

EBSCOhost and ProQuest can be easily accessed from the GALILEO home page.  Just look for the yellow-orange box labeled “Need Information Fast?” on the middle-left side of the main page.
 

FOR  YOUR  INFORMATION

NOTE: The specific number of found articles listed below pertains to the search results for January 2004.  The current number of articles is most likely higher than these sample numbers used below.
 
 

TASK 1: A Basic Keyword Search/Viewing Abstracts
 
Suppose that you are attempting to answer the following question through research: “Is homosexuality caused by genetics?”  To get started, you will need to select the proper databases.  Since your argument suggests that science might be able to explain this topic, you should narrow your databases down to the ones that pertain to medical professions.

1   Select the tab entitled “Medicine & Health.”

2   The drop-down menu offers eleven additional choices.  Select “Medicine & Health Sciences, A-Z.”

3   Since your topic is biological, select “Genetics Abstracts” from the main menu (it’s listed as #18 as of January 2004).  Give it a moment to load.

4   In the “Basic Search” window, search for “homosexuality” by typing this term in the “Search for” box.  You should receive 24 articles on this topic.  (NOTE: Click the "Search" button with your mouse rather than striking the "Enter" key on the keyboard.)

5   Click the “View Record” link, and read some of the abstracts of these scientific studies.  These links are located in the orangy/beige bar above the article title.  In some search engines, the abstracts appear automatically.  Abstracts are listed after the abbreviation  AB:  .

6   When you are done, return to the GALILEO home page by clicking the GALILEO icon, located in the upper left corner of the web page.  Then proceed to Task #2.
 

TASK 2: Locating Research Articles / Using Hyperlinks
 
Since this next topic involves a different type of science, you can refine your search by focusing on earth sciences rather than medicine.  The following search can lead you to the answers to the following question: “How will the ozone hole over Antarctica negatively impact the Earth’s ecosystems?”

1   Select the tab entitled “Science and Technology.”

2   The drop-down menu offers eleven additional choices.  Select “Ecology.”

3   From the database listings, select “Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management Set” (it’s #6 as of January 2004).  Again, give it a moment to load.  (NOTE: Press the blue "Continue" button if you get a message regarding an updated version of the database.)

4   Begin a search for “ozone” by typing this term in the “Find” window on the left.  (again, you may need to click the “Search” button with your mouse rather than striking the “Enter” key on the keyboard.)  Notice that you receive links to 14,000+ total articles – this is far too many to handle.

5   One way to narrow your search is to limit the range of publication dates.  You can do this by selecting alternative ranges of dates in the three white windows beneath the main “Find” window.  Play around and see how much this limits your hits.

6   Narrow your search another way adding a specific term to be paired with “ozone.”  Try typing “ozone Antarctic” in the search window.  Notice that you have now narrowed your search down to three articles — a far more manageable number!

7   Click the “View Record” link to see the article’s bibliography and abstract.

8   Click any author’s name to see other articles published by this person.   This option allows you to gain access to other articles written by these authors.

9   When you are done, return to the GALILEO home page by clicking the GALILEO icon, located in the upper left corner of the web page.  Then proceed to Task #3.
 

TASK 3: Researching a Debatable Issue by Publication
 
Most successful searches on GALILEO happen when you can narrow your topic by its keywords.  By pairing words together, the search engine can focus more narrowly through the databases.  This is called a Boolean search.  Suppose you are trying to answer the following question: “Do school vouchers improve test scores?”

1   Under “Need Information Fast?” click “Academic Search Premier (from EBSCOhost)” to enter a new database and search window.  This will give you access to larger and broader database collections.

2   Type “school vouchers” in the “Find” window.  Click “Search.”  Notice that you have gained access to over 575 articles — again, too many to manage.

3   Back up to the search window a second time so we can narrow the search.

4   Type “school vouchers” again in the “Find” window, but also type “National Review” in the “Journal” window, located in the middle of the screen in the “Limit Your Results” section.  Click “Search.”

5   You will soon access seven conservative articles.  Read some of their abstracts by clicking on the link to the article's title.  If you only want access to the article's text, then simply click the link entitled “HTML Full Text” or “PDF Full Text” if you want to view the article in an Adobe Acrobat pdf file (it looks like a photocopy from a magazine, and the text cannot be manipulated).

6   Repeat the previous step, but type “New Republic” in the “Journal” window instead.  You will access nine liberal articles on this topic.  Again, read some of their abstracts.

7   When you have had enough, return to the GALILEO home page by clicking the GALILEO icon,  in the upper left corner.  Then proceed to your final task, Task #4.
 

TASK 4: Sequencing  a Boolean Search / Keyword Combinations
 
A Boolean search only will be successful if you have arranged the words in the proper order.  Typically, typing the nouns before the adjectives helps.  Sometimes, however, experimenting with your keyword order can yield surprising results.  I encourage you to experiment. Suppose you are trying to answer the following question: “What is the history of Groundhog Day and its traditions?”

1   Under “Need Information Fast?” click “Research Library (from ProQuest)” to enter a new database and search window.

2   Type “Groundhog Day” in the “Basic Search” window.  Click “Search.”  Notice that you have gained access to 41 articles — too many to read effectively.

3   Click around some of these titles.  Did your search produce effective results?  How many of these articles pertain to the film Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray?

4   Try narrowing your search by adding a descriptor to “Groundhog Day” by backing up to the “Basic Search” page.  Try adding the word “traditions” after “Groundhog Day.”  If you are unsuccessful, then try other terms to narrow your search: “origins,” “folklore,” and “history.”
 

FOR  YOUR  INFORMATION

Notice that adding the terms “traditions,” “origins,” and “folklore” still does not yield an effective search (since no results were produced).  Adding the term “history,” however, produces a mixed bag, but you know that you can do better.  You may need to try several synonyms (or word combinations) before you can search the database successfully.  If you are persistent and patient, you should be able to locate the specific terminology required, even if you resort to trial and error.