How do I choose an database for searching articles?

Go to the Database and Article Searching page.  All of the library's databases for article searching are grouped under subject categories. Not all research topics fit neatly into one subject category, therefore look for databases in related subjects. For example, research on self disclosure in online dating is an appropriate topic for communication, psychology, and sociology databases.

To become acquainted with a database read its description:

Title of the Database: Click on the title to open the database. If you are off-campus you may have to sign in through the campus proxy.

Type (or format) of results: Database results vary widely. A citation index will only provide the citation to an article, generally title, author, and publication information. A citation index with abstracts will provide the citation and a brief summary of an article. A database with full text will, cite, summarize, and provide the actual text of articles. A caveat, not all results in a full text database will have the full text! Database creators loose and gain permission to carry the full text from journal publishers every year. If you find a citation and want to find the entire article see How do I find an article from a citation?

Description: A brief description of the nature of the database coverage.

Holdings: Provides the span of years covered by articles in the index.

Make sure the database covers the appropriate years for your topic.

Access: Identifies how the database is available to MBC-- e.g. subscription (available through MBC network); or free internet access; some index databases may need a password available from the library staff.

If you are having trouble selecting the right databases or finding articles, ask a librarian for assistance.