Using Database Comparison

Using a database allows us to search for information in an organized collection. As a user we benefit from this organization because it provides more relevant results through the use of subject headings and descriptors. We may also search for keywords in specific fields, such as author and title, and limit their results using various criteria.

Databases also provide information in known sources. For example, printed magazines and journals.

Berkeley College library catalog suggests using the following specific databases

in Business:

Academic Search Premier

Hoover's Online

Mergent Online

LexisNexis Academic- Select Business

Proquest - Select the database called Business Module

InfoTrac General Reference Center Gold

After checking out all types of library databases, I am somewhat fascinated in the possibilities these databases searches has and I found that they all had their pros and cons. However, the first one I looked at was "Proquest". Proquest was fast, easy and most comprehensive to get the business information I was looking for, since I can find a large number of names and topics on which to read. The search result provides the article title, the name of the publication where it was printed, bolded, and the date of publication, start page, and total number of pages for the article. Following the article quotation are options for viewing the full article. Full text may be available in plain Web layout and in print layout - PDF. We can select the "Topics" tab at the top of the Proquest Library screen. The Topics search will give us an alphabetical listing of close matches to the term we type in.

With millions of articles available online, Proquest Library database offers a great deal for most topics. Proquest was probably the easiest to understand and the fastest to get the relevant information because the layout is very simple to navigate.

The LexisNexis Search was by far the most visually intense but it was also the slowest one. The search results dropdown on the left allows you to restructure your response set by Publication name, Subject, Industry, Company, Geography and People. This allows us to make a choice from the visual concept map which sites are appropriate. There is also an outline that appears to the left of the screen when choosing different classifications; therefore the searching process