Searching Scholarly Databases

All of us have been in that situation as an undergraduate student -- where we have found ourselves lost in the maze of research when needing to locate a peer-reviewed article. We then arrive to the realization that the World Wide Web does not in fact possess the solution to all our academic problems. Well I’m here to tell you it does not have to be that way if you are an active Tarleton student. Tarleton Libraries provide access to multiple databases. They are even organized by subject, labeled as “Subject Guides” on the library home page (www.tarleton.edu/library). Many of these databases are scholarly databases and include peer-reviewed sources.

Where are scholarly databases located? 

Scholarly databases can be found among those listed at the “Databases A-Z” link on the library home page.

Scholarly databases deal only with published information, therefore resources are characterized by authority and trustworthiness. Such databases have features that allow the user to search by publication type, date, language, document format, scholarly/peer-reviewed status, and more.

Various times a year, the Dick Smith Library hosts database sessions to help students learn how to navigate scholarly databases. To learn about these sessions, stay tuned to the library calendar found in the library home page, or follow us on social media. We encourage you to attend and learn about effectively searching scholarly databases. Information seeking skills are worth acquiring, they will not only lighten the load in your journey to academic success, but they will prove to be useful in your professional and personal lives as well.

by Yeidi Rios