My Learning Essentials

Getting started with subject databases

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Introduction

Subject databases are search tools that you can use to search for information within a specific subject area, making your searches more focussed. Subject databases are an important source of research material for your discipline.

By searching subject databases, you can access high-quality information for use in your studies. In this guide we explore what you can find in these databases, why they are an important research tool, and how to select the right databases for your research.

✍ This resource will support you to create a personalised action plan.

What can I find in subject databases?

Subject databases usually cover a specific subject area, such as education or engineering. However, there will be some overlap with the information on other databases.

Subject databases offer scholarly material from academic publishers and specialist information providers, as well as various types of information. This may include:

  • Journal articles
  • Conference proceedings
  • Policies and white papers
  • Multimedia materials (images, video, audio)
  • Statistics and raw data sets
  • Business data, market research, and company information


Why do I need to use subject databases?

Your tutors will expect you to use high-quality sources in your work. Articles found in subject databases have usually undergone a process of peer review. This means the work has been checked by other scholars working in the same field. To learn more about peer review, take a look at the My Research Essentials guide to peer review.

Before using any source in your work, it's important to apply critical analysis skills. You can learn more about how to develop your critical thinking by working through our online guide to Thinking, reading and writing critically.

Your tutors will also expect you to use a wide range of sources in your work. Using subject databases alongside Library Search and Google Scholar helps to give you this range of information and perspectives.

In the marking criteria for your assessments, you may see phrases like "Demonstrates a critical understanding of a wide range of sources". This standard is hard to achieve if you only use one resource like Google Scholar.

How do I choose which databases to search?

  • Your research or assignment question may cross several disciplines, meaning you need to explore a wider range of subject databases.

    Even where this is not the case, looking across a range of related subject areas and databases is good way to ensure you are find alternative views and research that may influence your work.

    Using a range of perspectives will help you to support your argument and produce a well thought-out and critical piece of work.

    Multidisciplinary databases

    In addition to subject-specific databases, there are also multidisciplinary databases. Multidisciplinary databases contain information covering multiple research areas and are a particularly useful place to start your research. Examples of mulitidisciplinary databases include:


    Multidisciplinary databases should be used alongside specialist subject databases to get the broadest and most relevant results for your work.

    • Someone taking a photo of a computer monitor using their phone.
    Image credit: The University of Manchester.

How can I access databases for my research area?

Subject databases can be accessed from several locations on the Library website. Subject guides are the easiest place to familiarise yourself with the subject databases in your research area.

You can use the descriptions to help select the most relevant databases for your research. Once you are familiar with the databases in the subject guide, you can also access them quickly via the Database A-Z listings page.

⭐ Activity

Watch the video below to learn how you can find and access databases for your subject.

How do I search databases?

Watch the videos below to see examples of searching in commonly used databases.

Remember, all databases look a little different and have slightly different functions. If you are struggling to search a specific database try looking at the help section, check our FAQs, or contact a member of Library staff via Library Chat.


Watch the video below to see how to get started searching Web Of Science, including how to export reference files for your results.

Watch the video below to see how to get started searching for a specific company in the Scopus database.

Watch the video below to see how to get started searching for a specific company in the JSTOR database.


⭐ Activity

  1. Open the Web Of Science multidisciplinary database from the Library website.
  2. Carry out a search for a topic of your choosing.
  3. Use date filters to limit your search results to the last 5 years.
  4. Review the abstracts from the top 5 results to check for relevance.
  5. Add and remove filters from your search to observe how this affects the number of results retrieved.

Summary

Searching subject databases will help you to find the most relevant and highest quality research for your assignments. Try to take a systematic and organised approach to your searches to ensure you save yourself time later, especially at the reading stage.

Take a look at the further support options below to learn more about how to improve your search strategy.

Further support

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    Library support for searching

    This set of resources will take you through the searching process from start to finish and help you to find high quality, relevant sources for use in your work.

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    Library support for advanced searching

    On this page you will find all of our support for advanced searching including systematic reviews and search frameworks

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    Glossary of advanced searching

    In this post we explore the meaning of various terms used in searching and advanced searching of information.

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