BOOST

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Table of Contents

The Research Process

Defining Research Needs

Developing a Research Strategy

Conducting the Search
Keep a Working Bibliography
Find Books
Find Articles
Find Call Numbers
Find Web Sites

Evaluating Resources

Using Resources

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How to Find Articles


How do I choose the right database for my research question?

Some databases list articles on a wide range of topics and provide the full-text of many articles. A large, general academic database, such as EBSCOhost, references thousands of popular and scholarly periodicals and houses smaller databases. When utilizing resources at the Hutchins Library, it is a good idea to begin with the following databases:

Academic Search Premier
EBSCO HOST
OmniFile Full Text

Subject Area Databases

Other databases provide in-depth coverage of more focused subject areas. The articles found in these databases are likely to be more complex than those in the general databases listed above.

Hutchins Library offers a number of databases that are both useful for undergraduate research and cover many subject areas within the Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Sciences. Your instructor may want you to access certain databases or have recommendations for your specific research--be sure to ask.

Click on the broad subject headings below to access the appropriate article database.

General - Biography, Career, Multidisciplinary

Arts and Humanities - Art, Communications, History, Languages, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Religion

Sciences - Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Nursing, Physics

Social Sciences - Business, Education, Family Studies, Gender Studies, Physical Education, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Technology

Remember: you can also access an alphabetical listing of the electronic resources provided through Hutchins Library by clicking on ELECTRONIC RESOURCES on Library Home Page.

If you do not find a database that looks appropriate for your subject area, seek assistance from your instructor or Ask a Librarian.

Which databases do you think will be best for searching for articles related to your research question? Why?