Research

Library databases offer a quick and efficient way to locate articles for a research project on a particular subject. Academic Search Complete or ProQuest Central are good choices if you are getting started, as they are easy to use and cover a wide range of subject areas. 

Accessing a library database:

1. Navigate to the library webpage. 
2. Click on the link A-Z Databases. 
3. Select a database from the list and click on the database title. 
   • Academic Search Complete and ProQuest Central are listed under Popular Databases. 
   • If you know the database you want to use, locate it by browsing the alphabetically organized list. 
   • If you need a specialized database, filter the list using the Subject or Database Type dropdown menus. 
4. Once the database opens, you can start your search. 

Please note: If you are off-campus, you will be prompted to log in using your UCA credentials before the database opens. 

Tips for a successful database search

Databases utilize different platforms that look different and may use different terminology. But they essentially work the same way, and the tips below can assist you with most of the databases available through the library. 

• Turn your topic into keywords. Databases work differently than Google. Rather than whole sentences, you need to refine your research topic into a few key terms and short phrases, known as keywords.
• Use the database filters. Database filters on the left side of your search results will help narrow your results by publication date, resource type, language, and availability. 
• Print, download, or email the article. If you find an article, use the database tools to print, download, or email the article to yourself.