Find Articles: A Complete Guide
The Library has a large collection of journal-article databases that allow you to locate articles by subject, author, title and more. Use the list below to select a database area related to your research interests:
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1) General Articles Databases—Useful if your topic is multi- or interdisciplinary:
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| 2) Article Databases by Subject Find a specialized article database within many subject areas. |
| 3) News Articles Databases Indexes to articles from newspapers and other news sources. |
| 4) Government Resources Indexes to documents and other publications related to government and law. |
Additional info on finding articles:
Don't use the Library Catalog to find articles
CRUZCAT and Melvyl won't help you find journal articles. But don't panic—you won't have to endure the nightmare of looking through hundreds of journals page by page to find articles for your research. We have a large collection of journal-article indexes that allow you to locate articles by subject, author, title and more. And there are many indexes to choose from, some available in print and others as online databases.
Unfortunately, there is no single index that covers all the articles in the journals we own. In fact, we have hundreds of online article databases to choose from, each one specializing in different subject areas.
How do I search a database?
Each of the several hundred databases the Library subscribes to varies somewhat in how they look or are searched. Some useful tips in using an unfamiliar database include:
- Locate the built-in Help feature—This will often provide a quick overview of how to search
- Advanced search option—Most databases default to a very basic search box. A more advanced/expert search will often allow for more precise and efficient searching.
- Keyword Searching—This is usually the most flexible and forgiving of search options.
Is my article full-text online?
See “How to Use UC-eLinks” for more info.
Where does the Library keep its print journals?
The University Library shelves current journals separately in the Current Periodicals section of each library. Older volumes of journals are bound and shelved in the stacks of each library by call number. Current periodicals are on the second (main) floor of the Science & Engineering Library. Current periodicals are on the first floor (bottom floor) in McHenry Library. The call numbers for all journals can be found in CRUZCAT (http://cruzcat.ucsc.edu).
Hidden treasure—bibliographies & references
A bibliography is a list of books, articles and sometimes other materials such as films and recordings. Often-overlooked resources for journal articles are the bibliographies and cited references that can be found at the end of related journal articles or in books on your topic. So remember to take a look at the articles and books you've already found—you may have a treasure trove of related sources!
UC-eLINKS makes getting articles easier!
UC-eLinks is a technology that helps you get the full text of an article - whether online, in print, or by request from another library.
Just click the golden button to see one of the following results:
- Instant full-text available?
If not, try the next step... - Is there a link to full-text?
If it's not full-text online then try this... - What to do when full-text is not available!
1) INSTANT FULL-TEXT:
In most cases where full-text can be identified, UC-eLinks will load the full text of the article automatically:
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2) GET IT ONLINE:
Sometimes you'll see "Get It Online From" and you'll need to select the online link beneath it to navigate to the article on the journal website:
3) NO ONLINE TEXT?
When full-text cannot be identified UC-eLinks shows the "Find a Print Copy" option to request it from another library, add the citation to a bibliography (via RefWorks), or get help:
Call Number Locations: McHenry Library and Science & Engineering Library
The Library uses mainly Library of Congress call numbers for books and magazines. The guide below explains how to read a call number and some help in figuring out which floor and area in the library to search. For additional help using call numbers see "Understanding Call Numbers" <geography.miningco.com/library/congress/blhowto.htm>
Search for the book in CRUZCAT, the UCSC Library Catalog, located on our library home page (library.ucsc.edu). You can search by author, title, keyword or subject. The results screen will tell you the location, call number, and whether or not the book is checked out.
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The compilation of resources for research papers or projects necessarily includes not only books, but also articles from periodicals (i.e., journals and/or magazines)—vital sources of up-to-date information and scholarship. When issuing assignments, instructors often specify whether articles consulted are to be from popular or scholarly publications (the former usually referred to as magazines, the latter as journals). Although popular sources are not without merit and may also contain well-considered writing, the purpose of distinguishing between these types of works is to determine their degree of authority and depth of research on a given topic, and thereby their intrinsic academic value. The following chart points out the distinctions between popular and scholarly periodicals.
| POPULAR | SCHOLARLY |
| Broad range of topics, presented in shorter articles |
Specific, often narrowly focused topics in lengthy, in-depth articles |
| Articles offer overview of subject matter; reportage, rather than original research; sometimes contain feature articles and reports on current social issues and public opinion |
Articles often contain previously unpublished research and detail new developments in field |
| Intended to attract a general readership without any particular expertise or advanced education |
Intended for specialist readership of researchers, academics, students and professionals |
| Written by staff (not always attributed) or freelance writers using general, popular language |
Written by specialists and researchers in subject area, usually employing technical, subject-specific language and jargon |
| Edited and approved for publication in-house (not peer-reviewed) |
Critically evaluated by peers (fellow scholars) in field for content, scholarly soundness, and academic value |
| Articles rarely contain references or footnotes and follow no specific format |
Well-researched, documented articles nearly always follow standard format: abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, bibliography/references |
| Designed to attract eye of potential newsstand customers: usually filled with photographs or illustrations, printed on glossier paper |
Sober design: mostly text with some tables or graphs accompanying articles; usually little or no photography; negligible, if any, advertising; rarely printed on high-gloss paper |
| Each issue begins with page number '1' | Page numbers of issues within a volume (year) are usually consecutive (i.e., first page of succeeding issue is number following last page number of previous issue) |
| Presented to entertain, promote point of view, and/or sell products |
Intended to present researchers' opinions and findings based on original research |
| Examples: Newsweek Rolling Stone Vogue |
Examples: American Sociological Review Journal of Popular Culture Sustainable Agriculture |
Popular periodicals may further be divided into the following special categories:
| Substantive/ General Interest |
Trade Professional |
Sensational |
|---|---|---|
| Often greater attention paid to cultural, literary, or political matters | Contain news, trends, developments, and new products in industry or profession |
Principal subjects include celebrity gossip and 'news' stories defying generally accepted credibility; often in tabloid newspaper format |
| Aimed at more educated (though non-specialist) audience |
Intended for professionals and experts in field | Directed toward lowest-common-denominator audience |
| Staff or freelance writers sometimes have expertise in subject |
Often written by professionals in field | Written in elementary, sometimes inflammatory, language; authorship often unattributed |
| Sources are sometimes cited | References or footnotes, if included, are few |
Entirely unsubstantiated |
| Articles often more informative and detailed than other 'popular' press | Articles focus on technical and practical aspects of field | Appeal to audience's gullibility, superstitions, and prejudices |
| Examples: The Atlantic Monthly The Nation Science News |
Examples: Advertising Age Library Journal Publishers Weekly |
Examples: The National Enquirer Star Weekly World News |
Further information on the distinction between popular and scholarly periodical sources may be found in:
Engle, M. (2008). Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals.
Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Library.
Retrieved 28th August 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill20.html.
Johnson, W.A., Jr. & al. (2002). The Sociology Student Writer's Manual.
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
(call number McH Stacks HM73 S637)
Katz, W.A. (2007). Magazines for Libraries: For the General Reader and School, Junior College, College, University, and Public Libraries..
New York: Bowker.
(call number REF DESK Z6941 K2)
LSU (Louisiana State University) Libraries. (1998-2008). Evaluation of Information Sources: Part 1, Types of Information Sources.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Author.
Retrieved 28th August 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.lib.lsu.edu/instruction/evaluation/evaluation06.html.
Tibbles, M. (2009). LEARN (Library Electronic Academic Resources Network): Academic and Popular Journals.
Auckland, New Zealand: The University of Auckland Library.
Retrieved 28th August 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/subjects/bus/topicguides/academic_popularjnls.htm.