Research Databases: Finding an Article on Your Topic
Available electronically from any networked computer on campus or from home, or
- Available in the MacKimmie Library in print form
- Almost all can be searched by title, author, subject, or keyword
Indexes are important information sources for finding articles and research literature for your papers. The tools listed below will help you find articles of interest in journals, conference proceedings, etc. Journal articles refer to an article published in what you may consider a serial, periodical or magazine. To actually get the article, after searching the article indexes, see Getting Your Hands on the Material (below.)
Note: These are suggested indexes to get you started. For the most complete list, see the Electronic Indexes and Abstracts page and click on key or additional for the subject of interest. Go to Electronic Indexes and Abstracts.
These two indexes are useful for all general science topics:
- Academic Search Complete (EBSCO) (1970s – present)
- Covers 4300 periodicals with full-text of some 2600 peer-reviewed scholarly publications
- Web of Science (1975 – present)
- Available in print as Science Citation Index, 1961 to present (Q1 .S425, 2LB-Reference)
- Best for tracing citations to a known key paper
- Electronic version is updated weekly
Try also:
| Applied Science Index (Oct 1983 - present) |
More than 350 international, English-language periodicals
Covers engineering, mathematics, physics, and computer technology
Includes articles, interviews, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, new product reviews/announcements, and more
Updated monthly
|
| Expanded Academic ASAP (1980 - present) |
Indexing of 1500 general interest, trade and scholarly publications in all major academic programs.
Includes many fulltext articles
|
| ScienceDirect (Elsevier) (Coverage: in most cases: 1993 to present) |
E-journals from the publisher Elsevier
Provides fulltext of journals
|
| SCIE 503 Students: You may find the databases below useful as well: |
|
|
Indexes journal articles, books, theses, curriculi, conference papers, and standards and guidelines across all educational topics.
|
| ProQuest Digital Dissertations (1861 - present, full-text 1997 - present) |
Indexes doctoral dissertations and master's theses worldwide. Emphasis is on N. America.
|
| Theses Canada Portal (1998 - Aug 31, 2002) |
Records for all theses in the National Library of Canada theses collection. Provides free access to the full text electronic versions of Canadian theses and dissertations published from the beginning of 1998 to August 31, 2002.
|
| BIOSIS Previews (print: 1926 - 1995; electronic: 1980 - present) |
Major source of information in the life sciences
Available in print (QH301 .B55, 3LB)
Indexes about 5,500 life science research journals as well as 1,500 items from international meetings, review articles, books, book chapters, patents, and software reviews.
|
| Chemical Abstracts (SciFinder Scholar) (1907 - present) |
Major source of information in chemistry
Available in print (QD1 .C51, 2LB-Reference)
Available electronically (called SciFinder Scholar, at MacKimmie, Health Sciences, and Gallagher libraries and via the Web); Has journal and patent literature for chemistry and related disciplines, including substance data (REGISTRY), chemical reactions (CASREACT), chemical regulatory data (CHEMLIST), and chemical suppliers (CHEMCATS)
|
| LexisNexis Environmental (1975 -present) |
Includes Environment Abstracts
Citations and abstracts to journal articles, conference papers, government and other publications
Covers all aspects of human and technological impact on the environment
Includes very selective fulltext
|
| PubMed (1966 - present) |
From US National Library of Medicine
Covers medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, molecular biology, the health care system, and the preclinical sciences
LinkOut links to some UofC e-journal subscriptions
|
| Zoological Record (1993 - present) |
Indexes over 6,000 serials plus about 1,500 non-serial publications
Covers every aspect of zoology, including biochemistry, behavior, ecology, evolution, genetics, etc.
|
| BIOSIS Previews (print: 1926 - 1995; electronic: 1980 - present) |
Major source of information in the life sciences
Available in print (QH301 .B55, 3LB)
Indexes about 5,500 life science research journals as well as 1,500 items from international meetings, review articles, books, book chapters, patents, and software reviews.
|
| Chemical Abstracts (SciFinder) (1907 - present) |
Major source of information in chemistry
Available in print (QD1 .C51, 2LB-Reference)
Available electronically (called SciFinder Scholar, at MacKimmie, Health Sciences, and Gallagher libraries and via the Web); Has journal and patent literature for chemistry and related disciplines, including substance data (REGISTRY), chemical reactions (CASREACT), chemical regulatory data (CHEMLIST), and chemical suppliers (CHEMCATS)
|
| LexisNexis Environmental (1975 -present) |
Includes Environment Abstracts
Citations and abstracts to journal articles, conference papers, government and other publications
Covers all aspects of human and technological impact on the environment
Includes very selective fulltext
|
| ACM Digital Library (Association for Computing Machinery) (1985 - present) |
Journals, transactions, conference proceedings and other materials in the field of computing and related disciplines
Includes full-text
|
IEEE Xplore (IEL) - IEEE/IEE
Electronic Library Online (1988 - present) |
IEEE transactions, journals, magazines and conference proceedings, to IEE journals and conference proceedings, and to current IEEE standards
Includes fulltext articles
|
| INSPEC (1969 - present) |
Covers the fields of physics, electrical engineering, electronics, telecommunications, computers, control technology, and information technology
|
| Compendex (1970 - present) |
Comprehensive interdisciplinary engineering database
Indexes journal articles, technical reports, and conference papers and proceedings
|
IEEE Xplore (IEL) - IEEE/IEE
Electronic Library Online (1988 - present) |
IEEE transactions, journals, magazines and conference proceedings, to IEE journals and conference proceedings, and to current IEEE standards
Includes fulltext articles
|
| INSPEC (1969 - present) |
Covers the fields of physics, electrical engineering, electronics, telecommunications, computers, control technology, and information technology
|
| GEOBASE (1993 - present) |
Comprehensive bibliographic references with abstracts to important journals, books, monographs, reports and theses
Covers the fields of physical and human geography, geology, mineralogy, ecology, environmental studies and development studies
|
Top
| GEOBASE (1993 - present) |
Comprehensive bibliographic references with abstracts to important journals, books, monographs, reports and theses
Covers the fields of physical and human geography, geology, mineralogy, ecology, environmental studies and development studies
|
| GeoRef (North American geology - 1785 to present; Other areas - 1933 to present) |
Covers worldwide technical literature on geology and geophysics
Indexes papers from over 13,000 serials and other publications
|
| LexisNexis Environmental (1975 -present) |
Includes Environment Abstracts
Citations and abstracts to journal articles, conference papers, government and other publications
Covers all aspects of human and technological impact on the environment
Includes very selective fulltext
|
| Physical Education Index (1970 - present) |
Subject coverage includes physical education curricula, sports medicine, dance, sport law, kinesiology, motor learning, recreation, standardized fitness tests, sports equipment, business and marketing, coaching and training, sport sociology/psychology, health education, and physical therapy.
Citations and abstracts of articles in peer-reviewed journals, trade magazines, and the popular press, reports, conference proceedings, and patents.
|
| Medline (1966 - present) |
International literature on biomedicine, including the allied health fields and the biological and physical sciences, humanities, and information science as they relate to medicine and health care.
|
| Sport Discus (1830 - present) |
International information on sports medicine, exercise physiology, biomechanics, psychology, training techniques, coaching, physical education, physical fitness, active living, recreation, history, facilities and equipment.
|
| Applied Science Index (October 1983 - present) |
Over 350 international, English-language periodicals
Covers engineering, mathematics, physics, and computer technology
Includes articles, interviews, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, new product reviews/announcements, and more
Updated monthly
|
| Current Index to Statistics (1975 - present) |
Indexes mathematical statistical literature
|
| MathSciNet (1940 - present; reviews: 1980 - present) |
Bibliographic citations and reviews of the mathematical research literature
|
| ACM Digital Library (Association for Computing Machinery) (1985 - present) |
Journals, transactions, conference proceedings and other materials in the field of computing and related disciplines
Includes full-text
|
IEEE Xplore (IEL) - IEEE/IEE
Electronic Library Online (1988 - present) |
IEEE transactions, journals, magazines and conference proceedings, to IEE journals and conference proceedings, and to current IEEE standards
Includes fulltext articles
|
| Applied Science Index (October 1983 - present) |
Over 350 international, English-language periodicals
Covers engineering, mathematics, physics, and computer technology
Includes articles, interviews, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, new product reviews/announcements, and more
Updated monthly
|
| Compendex (1970 - present) |
Comprehensive interdisciplinary engineering database
Indexes journal articles, technical reports, and conference papers and proceedings
|
| INSPEC (1969 - present) |
Covers the fields of physics, electrical engineering, electronics, telecommunications, computers, control technology, and information technology
|
| Philosopher's Index (1940 - present) |
Indexing and abstracts of books and journals of philosophy, including aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and metaphysics, and the philosophy of various other disciplines.
|
| Sociological Abstracts (1980 - present) |
Covers sociology and related disciplines by including bibliographic citations, abstracts and enhanced dissertation citations
|
| Humanities Abstracts (1984 - present) |
Indexes and abstracts articles from 400 English- language periodicals in the fields of archaeology and classical studies, art, dance, drama, and film, folklore, gender studies, history, journalism and communications, language and literature, literary and political criticism, music and performing arts, philosophy, and religion and theology.
|
| HumGen |
Comprehensive international database on the legal, social and ethical aspects of human genetics, plus links to policy making bodies.
|
| Canadian Research Index (1982 - present) |
Citations and abstracts for publications issued by the federal government and the governments of the ten provinces and three territories, including policy papers, statistical reports, annual reports, and research papers. Also includes information on Canadian dissertations.
Library has full-text of documents on microfiche on 3LT at call number J103 .A1 M52
|
| Government Department Websites (Canada and the U.S.) |
Use a search engine to locate the department.
|
Getting Your Hands on the Material
SFX tries link a reference in an article index to the electronic full text of the article. If the library has electronic access to an article, SFX will create that link. If the library subscribes to the print journal, SFX will also create a link to it in the catalogue. That way, if the library does not have electronic access, you may find the print copy.
Other SFX links may not look like the button above. Instead, there may be a text link, "SFX" or a "full text" link. (SFX-enabled indexes will have "SFX" in the "Subjects covered" section of the indexes and abstracts list.)
If SFX indicates no electronic access, and provides no link to the catalogue, it is best to go directly to the Library Catalogue to determine if the library has the journal in its holdings, whether the library holdings include the issue that you require, and to obtain the call number and location of the journal. SFX is an evolving and relatively new service, so does not work perfectly.
Search by Journal Title. You will need to enter the full title of the journal as abbreviations are not used in the catalogue. To figure out abbreviations, try: Periodical title abbreviations: by abbreviation. 2LB-Reference Collection -- AP1 .P48.
The record for a journal or periodical title differs a little from the record for a book. The long record for a journal title search provides the call number, location for current issues (approximately the last year) and backset (older) issues, publication information, subject headings, description, and range of years which the library holds. This can be found near the bottom of the screen in the HOLDINGS area. If there is a link to electronic access, read the link to see the years that library has. For example:
INTERNET ACCESS:
Full text available from American Chemical Society Web Editions: 1999 to present
http://ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca:2048/login?url=http://pubs.acs.org/journals/inocaj/index.html
HOLDINGS--
Location: BLT -- QD1 .I52 -- Note:Current issues only
Location: 3LB -- QD1 .I52
LIBRARY HAS: V.1-42,1962-2003.
Note:
- A range of years e.g. 1950 -1985 means the library began receiving this item in 1950, but stopped receiving it after 1985. A date range e.g. 1950 - means the library began to receive this item in 1950 and continues to receive current issues.
- The library catalogue finds journal titles but NOT the articles within journals.
- Journals are for in-library use only and DO NOT circulate, therefore on their record, their status is indicated by the code: NOTPOSS
- When searching the library catalogue and other datbases use the navigation buttons (ie. FORWARD and BACKWARD) that are provided in the datbase; don't use the buttons in your web browser.
- The Library's web pages can also provide you with more information on searching the Catalogue, and explanations of library location codes.
3. Document Delivery Services
Lastly, if the article you want is not held by the University of Calgary Library, it may be obtained through Document Delivery Services. There is no charge for this service. Document Delivery staff will locate the item in another library and it should arrive in 2 days to 3 weeks. Requested material is to be picked up at the Circulation Desk(1LT) or it will be emailed to you.
4. Other Resources - DOI Resolvers
DOI is a Digital Object Identifier that is given to electronic articles, books, etc. If you have a number that looks something like: 10.1126/science.309.5738.1149k, you can enter it at the Web sites below to access the document.
5. Other Resources - Citation Linker
Enter the information you have for your citation (i.e. article title, year, volume, issue, page numbers) and SFX will try to find it for you.
|
