How Do I Choose a Database?
The SU Library subscribes to a lot of databases. How do you decide which one to search?
Start by thinking about your assignment. What is most important?
Broad coverage of a topic from a variety of sources?
Multidisciplinary databases such as Academic Search Complete. It includes popular and scholarly sources from all academic disciplines.
Newspaper databases such as LexisNexis Academic. It includes newspapers and magazines as well as many specialty searches.
These types of databases are often a good starting point for research.
In-depth coverage of a single subject or discipline?
Single subject databases like CINAHL (nursing), ERIC (education) or PsycInfo (psychology) focus on a single academic discipline.
As you advance in your major, your professors will expect you to search for sources within your academic field.
Scholarly peer reviewed articles?
Many databases allow you to limit your searches to scholarly sources. They may also call these sources Academic, Peer Reviewed or Refereed Journals.
If you aren’t sure if you are finding scholarly sources, talk to one of the reference librarians.
A specific source, such as the Wall Street Journal?
Some specific sources are included in the database list, such as Wall Street Journal.
If you do not see the source you need, use the Full-text Journal Locator to determine which database includes the desired periodical.
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