Databases
Databases are the first place to look for articles. Databases usually have information about an article (such as the title, author, name of the journal or magazine in which the article appeared) and they may also contain a summary (abstract) of the article.
Some databases have a complete copy of the articles (called full text). In this case there is a link to an HTML or PDF document.
Begin your search with these reccommended databases:
- GreenFILEA research database focusing on the relationship between human beings and the environment, with well-researched but accessible information on topics ranging from global warming to recycling to alternate fuel sources and beyond. Comprised of scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports.
- Public Library of SciencePLoS is a nonprofit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource.
- Science.gov“Science.gov is a gateway to more than 42 scientific databases and 200 million pages of science information with just one query, and is a gateway to more than 2,000 scientific websites from 18 organizations within 14 federal science agencies. These agencies represent 97% of the federal R&D budget. Science.gov is the USA.gov portal to science and the U.S. contribution to WorldWideScience.org."
- SciTech ConnectScience, environmental, technology, and engineering research information from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Journals
To browse all print and electronic journals in the sciences at Mercyhurst Libraries, click one of the links below:
Google Scholar
Search Tips
Keywords
Keywords are the words that most accurately describe the topic you want. As you search, look in the records you find for additional or more exact keywords or phrases to use.
Synonyms
Think about different words an author might have used.
AND, OR, NOT, Quotes and Stars
Use these special words ("operators") to connect your keywords --
AND -results must include both words.
OR -results can contain either of the words. Use to link synonyms
NOT -results include one word and not the other.
Quotes - (in most databases) the quoted words must appear together.
Star - (in most databases) look for all variations after the *.
Limit your Search
Depending on the database, this could be searching by Title, Author or Publication Date. Also look for "Descriptors" or "Subject terms" assigned to good articles, then search by those terms.
Ask a Librarian
Talk to the librarian at the reference desk for more tips.
