*The Research Process: A Guide for GWC Students

Library databases provide you with 24/7 access to materials such as magazine, journal and newspaper articles, to name a few.

To help you identify the most appropriate database for your research topic:

• Find all databases on the GWC Library Databases A-Z Page 
• Use the pull-down menu to limit your search by 'SUBJECT' or
• Sort them using 'DATABASE by TYPE':
  • All databases that contain SCHOLARLY JOURNAL ARTICLES.
  • All databases that contain STREAMING VIDEO.
  • All databases that contain EBOOKS/EBOOK CHAPTERS.

Not sure what a database is and why they are important?

Watch this short video!

Periodicals are publications which are issued at regular intervals, such as journals, magazines, and newspapers.

To help you identify different periodicals, refer to the Types of Periodicals guide.

Depending on the database you are using, articles may be displayed in different formats:

• Index: Includes only the article citation (i.e., author, title, date, etc.). Neither a summary nor the full-text of the article is available.
• Abstract: Includes the citation and a summary of the article's content. It does not include the full-text article.
• Full-text: Includes the citation and full-text article. This may be in HTML, PDF, or both formats

Most databases at GWC will default to show you only full-text results. You can change this option if you wish.

Open access journals provide unrestricted, free access via the Internet to peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles. However, it is often much easier to search the databases your library subscribes to first.