A freshman humanities course in reading and research was used by three English instructors to investigate the appropriateness of having students use an online database as a research tool. The results show that the acquisition of basic online database search skills is not qualitatively different from that of more traditional research skills. Learning the use of a database can also teach students to think more clearly about narrowing and refining their research topics and to see their subjects in relation to broader and more varied scholarly contexts. Student responses were varied, and several students said that database searching was their first computer experience. The most important pedagogical finding and the source of most positive reactions was that searching provides an efficient way, through the conference at the terminal, for teachers to watch students progress in the development and refining process. Most negative reactions resulted directly from the unavailability of databases in specific subject areas, particularly in the humanities. Expansion of the project with full university support is planned. Six reference notes are included. (LMM)