If your topic is medical, try these databases:
Research Library: Health & Medicine This link opens in a new window
This resource covers publications on the latest medical information for researchers of all levels.
Health & Wellness Resource Center This link opens in a new window
Provides instant access to carefully compiled and trusted medical reference materials from 400 health/medical journals, hundreds of pamphlets, over 700 health-related videos from Healthology, Inc., and articles from 2,200 general interest publications in addition to Cengage Gale reference titles.
Public Health Database This link opens in a new window
This database allows you to search the core literature in the field of public health.
And remember to read through the abstract in order to make sure you can understand the terminology and research explained. Medical topics can get complicated quickly. Using reference material, like Ebook Central, can help with that.
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If your topic is social/cultural, try these databases:
Social Science Database This link opens in a new window
Social Science Database offers indexing and full text for hundreds of academic journals, providing extensive coverage across a wide range of social science disciplines including anthropology, communication, criminology, economics, education, political science, psychology, social work, and sociology.
Criminal Justice Collection This link opens in a new window
Whether studying to become a lawyer or law enforcement officer, paralegal, or for a career in Homeland Security, this collection rises to the challenge. Users will have access to 150 journals.
Sociology Database This link opens in a new window
Sociology Database covers the international literature of sociology and social work, including relevant titles from related fields such as social policy, social care, social services, social anthropology, gender studies, gerontology, social psychology and population studies. It includes hundreds of full-text scholarly journals, as well as dissertations and other sources.
Psychology Collection This link opens in a new window
This set of over 200 subject-appropriate full-text periodicals explores what makes people "tick" from childhood to death. This collection gives individuals a basic understanding of the study of the mind, emotions and how the human mind develops -- and diminishes -- over time.
And use Boolean operators, quotation marks & other search strategies to narrow down your topic.
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If your topic is political, try these databases:
Political Science Database This link opens in a new window
Political Science Database gives users access to hundreds of leading political science, public policy, and international relations journals. It also includes thousands of recent full-text doctoral dissertations on political science topics, together with working papers, conference proceedings, country reports, policy papers and other sources.
Global Issues in Context This link opens in a new window
"Global Issues in Context focuses on broad issues, such as war, genocide, terrorism, human rights, poverty, famine, globalization, world trade, nuclear proliferation, and global warming, as well as more specific events and topics in the news that are related to these broader issues. It also includes detailed information on nations to provide a foundation for cross-cultural studies and, International periodicals and news sources that bring additional insight and currency."
And make sure to always check the date of publication on your sources.
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If your topic is scientific or agricultural (food), try these databases:
General Science Collection This link opens in a new window
"General Science Collection provides access to scholarly journals and magazines covering the latest scientific developments. Key subjects covered by the database include biological sciences, computing, engineering, and technology."
Science in Context This link opens in a new window
Science in Context features authoritative information for assignments and projects, and provides detailed coverage of popular subjects including earth science, life science, space, technology, mathematics, and science history and biography.
Agriculture Collection This link opens in a new window
Comprised of nearly 200 titles, researchers have access to current and authoritative content that spans the agriculture industry and its related fields -- from practical aspects of farming to cutting edge scientific research in horticulture.
And make sure to read through the abstract in order to make sure you can understand the terminology and research explained. If possible, try to figure out what type of science your topic falls under (agriculture, biology, chemistry, etc.) before you start searching.
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If your topic is technological, try these databases:
Research Library: Science & Technology This link opens in a new window
This resource covers publications on the latest science and technology information for researchers of all levels.
Computing Database This link opens in a new window
This database is a premium resource for those who need access to comprehensive coverage of computer topics. The database includes numerous titles, most of them in full text, allowing users to search records dating back to the early 1990's.
And focus on the way technology influences people, culture, society, etc. Don't get caught up in the articles that are providing a ton of details about how a technology works.
