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UWS Online Research Education Modules (OREMS)

This Online Resource Education Module will introduce you to library databases. You will learn about different types of databases and how to choose the right database for your current research need.

Introduction

In the Keyword Brainstorming module, you developed a list of keywords related to your research question. The next step is to decide where you're going to use those keywords to search for journal articles, books, book chapters, etc. 

There are many search tools out there, and each provides  access to different kinds of information. The best choice for a particular situation will depend on what you're trying to find, and you'll likely find yourself using different tools in different situations. In this lesson, we'll explore a few of these search tools and consider how to choose the right tool for your current research question.

What is a Database?

What is a database?

For our purposes, a database is a collection of resources that you can search like a search engine. Some databases are very general, with information on many different topics. Others are specific, focusing on a particular discipline or theme.

Examples of databases that you might have used are Google Scholar, JSTOR, and PubMed.

Is there one database where I can search for everything I need?

It would be convenient if there were one database where you could search for anything you might need. Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

There are some databases that include millions of resources from a variety of disciplines, which are as close to one-stop shopping as you'll get.

  • One example is Google Scholar, Google's search engine for scholarly literature.
  • Another example is Brandeis Library OneSearch, which searches many (but not all) of our databases at once. 

These are often great places to start your research, and they have some special features that can be useful in certain situations. It also helps to know about other options that can make your search easier.