CAP Master: Articles/Databases

School of Communications

Search tips

  • use "quotation marks" around phrases
  • truncate - with an asterisk * - truncat* finds truncate, truncated, truncation
  • use AND to combine unlike ideas: dance AND promotion
  • use OR to connect synonyms:  advertisements OR campaigns

Put it all together:

  • "hip hop dance" in one box
  • AND (promot* OR advertis* OR campaigns) in the next box
  • use parentheses in single-box searching - when you don't have another set of boxes, e.g.,:
  • "hip hop dance" AND (promot* OR advertis* OR campaigns)

Use the left or right menus to narrow your results, e.g., by language, date, subject, etc.

  • Databases have a citation and sometimes they will also contain an abstract, or summary, of the article.
  • Databases also often cite multiple types of resources - books, essays or chapters, government documents, etc.
  • Some databases will also have the complete item (called the full text): you should see a link to an HTML or PDF document. Or click on Get it @ GVSU - this will check other library databases for the full text.

Advertising/PR databases

Company Financial Info

Company financial profiles are a quick way to get background on a company, what they do, & their current situation.

Google a company's website and look for "about us" or "investors" for annual reports and info for shareholders.

Law & Legal issues database

Market Share/Rankings & Industry Statistics/Trends

Market research includes industry, product, brand, consumer, geography, etc.

Statistics

  • Last Updated: Jul 9, 2025 12:53 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.gvsu.edu/cap/old