SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY ::

Research Strategies

:: The Library

:: Search Strategy

:: Topic and Terms

:: The Web

:: Scholarly?

:: Reference

:: Catalogs

:: Articles

:: Databases I

:: Databases II

:: Databases III

:: Databases IV

:: Quick Search

:: Evaluation

:: Plagiarism

:: Citing

Research Databases I -- General Overview
Use research databases to find resources such as online music in various audio formats; photographs and graphical images of artworks; online videos; and articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers.

Research databases are "catalogs" of records of periodical articles and/or other resources. The library's research databases link to online resources.

Academic Search Complete and LexisNexis
For basic research, the two research databases at the top of the library homepage -- Academic Search Complete and LexisNexis Academic -- are great places to start. For more information about searching these two databases, click Databases II.

Databases by Subject
If you want to know the ONE best database for a particular subject or format, click "Select Databases - Short List."

To see the databases that are most useful to any particular discipline, use the "Databases by Subject" link from the Library homepage.

What's to Know about Databases?
Each research database is unique. Before you choose a particular database, here is some information about databases in general:

Most Clark Memorial Library databases provide immediate access to online full-text articles; however, not every article in every database is available online. If you do not see an "HTML Full Text" or "PDF Full Text" link, click (Find It) to check for both online and hard copy access. If an article is not available in electronic full text or in hard copy in the library, request it via Interlibrary Loan.
Some research databases cover all fields of knowledge superficially, while others cover very specific disciplines in depth.
Subject-specific research databases focus specifically on a particular area of knowledge and offer a higher percentage of professional and scholarly literature.
Research databases index articles from selected magazines and journals. Different research databases cover different periodicals.
No research database contains records for all the periodical articles. (And neither does Google or Google Scholar!)
Some research databases index several types or formats of information — articles, documents, conference papers, chapters from books, pamphlets, and audiovisuals.
Some research databases offer only one type or format of information — only newspaper articles, only company reports, only graphics, etc.
Most research databases cover current literature. Some "historic" research databases are limited to materials from a particular historical era.
Because many different companies produce catalogs and research databases, you will notice differences in the screens, command keys, and functions. Guides to most catalogs and databases are available online. Look for HELP or SEARCH TIPS.
Since most research databases do not index the periodical collection of any particular institution, no particular institution or library consortium will have all of the articles cited in the database.
Most research databases are proprietary resources that the library and/or OhioLINK subscribes to; users must either come to the Library or be a part of a special group (such as currently-enrolled students) to use them.

Chapter 18 of The Longman Concise Companion contains an introduction to research databases.

Choosing a Database
The library lists more than 275 research databases in our A-Z list, and most provide access to online articles and/or online audio, graphics, videos, and other resources. To locate the “right” database, consider your subject and the type of information you are seeking. Make sure the database you choose covers the time period, type of literature, and/or subject you are investigating, and that it provides information in the format that you desire. You can find this information in the database description by clicking "more...". Alternately, use the Databases by Subject option to find a list of databases for a specific discipline.

Quick Search
For information about searching across multiple databases simultaneously, click the "Quick Search" button in the menu on this webpage.

Research Database Restrictions and Off-Campus Use
The library subscribes to many research databases. Although their use is restricted to SSU students, faculty, staff, and library visitors, you can use them from home. For more information, go to Help for Off Campus Users.

To go to the next page in the Research Strategies tutorial, click Databases II.

Need Help?

Get help via IM, Chat With a Librarian, email (Reference_Services@Shawnee.edu), or by phoning (740.351.3321).

If you prefer face-to-face assistance, stop by the Clark Memorial Library Reference Counter or schedule a Research Consultation with a Reference Librarian.

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