The key to finding the right database is knowing what's in it. Here are some questions to ask about any database before you use it.
Note what subject areas are covered to ensure that you are using the correct database for your topic. Searching for engineering articles in PsycInfo won't get you far.
In addition, your choice of database will influence the kind of analysis you're likely to find. Searching for "marijuana legalization" will get very different results if you use PubMed (medical studies) or PAIS (public policy issues).
Most databases only cover materials published in the last few decades; there's usually a specific cutoff date. If you're looking for articles or research from before that date, you'll need to use a different database.
In a few databases, you also need to ask "How recent does it get?" Databases of historical materials usually don't go up to the present. And some databases simply exclude the most recent year or two of all journal articles.
Most databases index scholarly journal articles, but many cover other types of content, either in addition to or instead of. Some common material types include:
It's easy to figure out that SocINDEX is a good database for your sociology paper, or that you might want to use BioOne for biology. But what about the "multidisciplinary" databases that cover all topics? Here's a quick run-down of the most commonly used titles.
Database |
Contents |
Pros |
Cons |
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Academic OneFile |
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JSTOR |
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Nexis Uni |
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Project Muse |
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While some databases are actual collections of online content, most are simply indexes of articles or other materials. They contain citations to the material. Index/​citation databases help you discover and identify useful articles for your topic... but then you still have to actually find them.
Knowing which type of database you're using tells you what to expect in terms of finding full text and also influences your search terms.
Common Full-Text Databases | Common Citation-Only Databases |
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Do NOT limit yourself to full-text databases!
EbscoHost isn't a database. It's a company that hosts databases. Lots of databases. Their logos appear prominently on the web pages, but knowing which vendor you used doesn't really help narrow the options if you're trying to retrace your search results.
The same situation applies to ProQuest, Thomson Reuters, Springer, Wiley, etc. Saying "I found this article in ProQuest" is like saying "I made this file with Microsoft"—it's true, but not a lot of help in finding the right program to open the file.
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