1. A Guide for Using Academic
Search Complete
Amy Smith
AmyESmith@eagles.usm.edu

2. Academic Search Complete
Academic Search Complete is an EBSCOhost
database that contains more than 6,100 full-text
periodicals, including more than 5,100 peer-
reviewed journals. The database also includes
indexing and abstracts for more than 10,100
journals and over 10,600 publications including
monographs, reports, conference
proceedings, etc.
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3. Basic Search Screen
Basic Search Options
Include:
• Boolean/Phrase
• Find all my search
terms
• Find any of my
search terms
• SmartText
Searching
Retrieved from: Troy University, Online Databases, Academic Search
Complete, http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.troy.edu/
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4. Search Results
Retrieved from: Troy University, Online Databases, Academic Search Complete, http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.troy.edu/ehost/results
3/04/2012 LIS 557: Computer Applications in Libraries 4

5. Narrowing Search Results
• Full Text
• Scholarly Journals (Peer
Reviewed)
• Source Type
(magazine, newspaper,
books, journals, book
reviews)
• Publication Date
• References Available
• Subject
• Publication Retrieved from: Troy University, Online Databases, Academic Search
Complete, http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.troy.edu/ehost/results
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6. Choosing An Articles
After narrowing down
your search results, the
icon next to the article
title can be used to read
the article abstract to help
determine what articles
are the most helpful.
Retrieved from: Troy University, Online Databases, Academic Search
Complete, http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.troy.edu/ehost/results
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7. Article Options
Format Storing/Saving
• PDF Format – Opens in • Save to your computer
Adobe Reader and is a • Flash Drive
replica of the actual print • Email
copy, including graphics.
• Add to a folder
• HTML Format – Simpler text
version of an article that • Export
does not require a special • Print
program to open. • Bookmark
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8. Citations
Citations for any article are easily accessible by clicking on the “cite” link after opening an
article.
 It is important to review these citations against a style manual to ensure correctness. It
should NEVER be assumed that they are correct.
Retrieved from: Troy University, Online Databases, Academic Search Complete, http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.troy.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/
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9. Other Search Options
Academic Search Complete offers several
different search options. If the basic search did
not yield the needed results, there are two
other search options to try:
• Advance Search
• Visual Search
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10. Thank you for you attention.
Any Questions?