Introduction to Social Science Writing - PSYC/SOCI 275W Resource Guide

Stafford Library subscribes to databases containing the content of published journals, newspapers, magazines, and reference books.  When using databases:

• Choose an appropriate subject-specific or multiple-subject database.
• Many databases have a basic and an advanced search option.  Try using the advanced option for its capability to refine your search.
• Limiters allow you to restrict your search results, for example, to full-text sources, to scholarly/peer-reviewed/refereed journals, or to certain types of sources, such as articles, book reviews, case studies, or primary source documents.  Limiters are usually in the advanced search option.
• Look for subject terms listed in the descriptive information for the articles brought up in your search.  These subject headings can be good words  to enter as a search term, especially if you choose the option to search them as a subject.
• Some databases have a link for "subjects," "subject terms," or "thesaurus."  Using that feature, you can enter a search term to see if that particular database classifies it as an official subject heading or to learn of a different term the database uses as the subject heading. 
• Most databases have a help feature on the toolbar or somewhere else on the page.  It will have search tips for that database.
• Contact us for help.  See our contact information on the Welcome page of this guide.