Text 1 Why use a research database?

For most scholarly pursuits, a research database is superior to a Google search for finding information resources. In this component you'll learn how search engines and databases differ and begin to shift your researching strategy toward academic databases.

Key points to consider:

Not everything can be found using Google

Only a small proportion of published scholarship is freely available online. The publishing process adds value to information, and there are costs associated with that value added through peer review and editing. KSL pays to provide students with access to resources that are not available for free to the public online

Information on the web has a variety of purposes (mostly not scholarly)

The web is a vast mishmash of information that serves a variety of purposes: to promote opinions, to sell you something, to entertain and inform, and sometimes to advance human knowledge. Research databases cut the clutter and get you right to a smaller pool of high quality and more relevant scholarly information.

Databases have information quality control

With library databases, the majority of the content is published information and therefore much more likely to be vetted by an editor or a peer review process. It is much more likely to be scholarly information produced with rigorous and reliable research methods.

Sources in databases are generally more stable and reliable

While some scholarly information can be found on the web, it may be harder to determine where it came from, who the author is, and how the information was produced. Web pages may change frequently or disappear; journal articles are permanent, therefore stable and reliable for the purpose of citation.

Librarians are available to consult

Not sure which database to use or how to find resources on a particular topic? Use Ask KSL to contact us by email, IM, phone, Zoom or by appointment.

Complete list of Library Databases
Link to tutorial "How to Access Library Databases"
Tutorial Video [3:41] "Choosing a Database" (CaseID single sign-on required)