Where to Search
Use Research Databases to find articles on your topic.
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Databases are electronic indexes that provide searchable "lists" of articles that have been published in journals, popular magazines, newspapers, or other items on almost any subject you can think of!
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Many of the databases contain full text, meaning that the entire article is available in the database, either in PDF or HTML format. Some databases do not contain full text articles. To find the full text of an article, use the Full Text Finder button or check the Periodical List.
- The library has access to more than 600 databases, and choosing one is the first step for successful searching. You can choose a research database by Subject, by Name, or by Type. Try a database specific to your subject area for more advanced research by using the databases listed under By Subject.
What is Full Text Finder?
Look for a link like this one in the results list:
Full Text Finder is a process that will search all of the library's databases to see if the full text is available.
If the full-text article is available in a different database, the Full Text Finder results page will give you a direct link to it.
If the full-text article is NOT available in any database, you have a couple of options:
- First, check the Periodical List—the library may have a print copy of that journal instead of an electronic version. Learn more about requesting access to print journals in this FAQ.
- If the library does not own a print copy, request a copy of the article through InterLibrary Loan. Hint: if you use the link to ILLiad on the Full Text Finder results page, it will automatically fill in your request form.
Where can I find the print journal I need?
If you know the journal or other publication you need to find, check the Periodical List to find out how you can access it. You can search by the publication's title or browse by discipline.
When you find the publication you need, you'll see which databases, if any, contain that publication and which publishing dates are covered.
(click on the image to see a larger version)
Which databases should I use?
Find the full list of databases on the Research Databases page. Here are a few suggested databases for typical ENG 1320 assignments:
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Start Your ResearchThis database combines the library catalog with several of the most commonly used databases. If you search here, you should get a lot of results (print and digital) that cover a wide range of subjects.
Multi-Subject: Try these databases as a starting point for your research or if your topic doesn't fit into any one subject.
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Academic Search CompleteMulti-subject. database including history, political science, law, government and more
Coverage: 1887 to present -
Humanities SourceArea studies, theology, religion, performing arts, literary & political criticism, language & literature, music, philosophy, history, and classical studies, area studies, art, communications, dance, film, folklore, gender studies, and journalism.
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JSTORMulti-Subject. -- Access begins with the first volume for many journal titles, but usually does not have the newest volumes of each journal.
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MasterFILE CompleteMulti-Subject. This is a collection of the most popular full-text magazines, journals, and other highly-regarded sources from the world's leading publishers, covering virtually every subject area of general interest such as business, education, health, general science, and multi-cultural issues. Also contains more than 1.2 million photos, maps, and flags; more than 55,000 primary source documents; almost 1000 reference books, and thousands of biographies.
Pro/Con Issues & Hot Topics: If you're writing about current events or arguing for a particular opinion or viewpoint, search in these databases.
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CQ ResearcherIn-depth, unbiased coverage of health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, economy, and global affairs. Reports include an introductory overview; background and chronology on the topic; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources.
Coverage: 1923 to present -
Gale in Context: Opposing ViewpointsCurrent social issues presented in topic pages with a variety of data on differing points of view.
Literature and Languages: Use these databases if you need to do research on literature, film, communications, or a related topic.
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Arts & Humanities Citation IndexArchaeology, architecture, art, Asian studies, classics, folklore, history, language, linguistics, literature, music, philosophy, radio, television, film, religion, and theater.
Coverage: 1975 to present -
Essay & General Literature Index (H.W. Wilson)Indexes literature and humanities related journals and book chapters. Subjects include economics, political science, and history to criticism of literary works, art history, drama, and film. Items indexed are limited to English language publications from the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain.
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MLA International BibliographyCombines the definitive index for the study of language, literature, linguistics, rhetoric and composition, folklore, and film with full text for more than 1,000 journals, including many of the leading publications in these fields. The database also includes the MLA Directory of Periodicals and the MLA Thesaurus, a proprietary, searchable collection of thousands of subject terms, and personal names used in indexing the bibliography.
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Project MUSEProject MUSE offers full-text current and archival articles from 500+ scholarly journals from major university presses covering literature and criticism, history, performing arts, cultural studies, education, philosophy, political science, gender studies, and more. Updated continually.
How do I evaluate my search results?
Use this list as an evaluation tool to determine if your search results are reliable enough to use. This is just a starting point—you may find more points to consider as you become more comfortable with evaluating your sources.
Currency
- When was this article or webpage published? Has it been updated since then?
- Has the author written more recent papers on the same subject?
- Does this article contain statistics or data? Are more current figures available elsewhere?
Relevance
- Does the information in this article answer your research question?
- Does the type of article fit the requirements of your assignment?
- Is this article appropriate for college-level research?
Authority
- Who wrote the article?
- Is the author an expert in the field? What credentials does he or she have to suggest that?
- Can you find any other resources that cite this article?
Accuracy
- Does the information in the article fit with what you already know about the subject?
- Does the article contain references or citations to other resources?
Purpose
- Does the article seem to be objective, or is there any obvious bias or prejudice?
- Does the author use emotional language?
- Is the author writing on behalf of any company or political entity?
The CRAAP test was originally created by librarians at Meriam Library at California State University, Chico.