Databases

Identifying and using subject specific databases is very effective for finding information on a topic. For comprehensive searching it is recommended to use more than one database to access a broader range of resources as a single database does not index all the literature on a specific topic.

A database is a regularly updated collection of online resources and may contain journal articles, ebooks, conference papers, maps, videos and other electronic resources. Databases can be related to specific subject areas or cross multiple subjects.

Most databases offer full-text access, but there are index and abstract databases which provide the bibliographic details and the abstract of the resources only. These consolidate a broad range of resources within a subject area and additional useful functionality specific to the field such as a thesaurus or subject headings.

Examples of abstract and index databases:

• Social Work Abstracts
• Scopus
• EconLit
• Inspec.

How to access QUT databases

As a QUT student or staff member, you can access all databases on campus and off campus by logging in through the library page.

QUT Library provides access to over 800 databases, which are accessible on the library page:

• Database A-Z list (all databases listed in alphabetical order)

Locate a database by name or by the descriptions given for each database. The descriptions provide information about the type of resources in a database and the subject areas covered.

Some databases (such as Scopus) do not provide full-text access to their resources but index millions of high-quality resources. If you find useful resources in one of these databases but there is no full-text option available, check for , try a search of Google Scholar, the lead author's institutional repository or use document delivery.

Recommended databases for study areas

QUT Library's researching by study area section gives an overview of resources for individual subject areas, including a section about databases with links to recommended special databases and instructions on how to use them. See guides for:

• Architecture and built environment
• Business
• Creative industries
• Education
• Engineering
• Health
• Information technology
• Justice
• Law
• Mathematics
• Science

Databases are an index of scholarly resources. Databases for research often include collections of information, full text articles, book chapters and websites. Understanding the structure of databases will help you get the most out of searching no matter what the tool. For the purpose of research, a database can be described as:

• a collection or repository of electronic sources
• a searching tool using records and indexes
• a publishing platform (e.g. EBSCOhost which has multiple collections by subject and/or format).

Common features of databases

Common features of databases include:

• basic and advanced search screens
• searching by fields such as author, article title, abstract
• search syntax techniques such as Boolean, truncation, wildcard, proximity
• results screen with ability to sort and view in different ways
• limiters to refine results by subject, format, publication date, peer-reviewed, etc.
• the ability to email, print, download, export to reference management software
• the ability to create profiles, save searches and results
• email alerts for searches and Table of Contents
• a thesaurus of subject terms in use
• help functionality to show the search options.

Evaluating databases - strengths and limitations

Being aware of the strengths and limitations of a database will help to maximise their potential as well as decide when it is time to select or move to another. The guiding questions below will help you decide on the value of individual databases for your research.

Criteria	Questions to ask
Comprehensiveness	Does the database offer reliable, comprehensive coverage of journal articles in the area of interest? Is it suitable for a comprehensive search of the literature or does it only cover a small percentage of the literature?
Scope	Coverage - what years are covered? How up to date is the information and how often is the database updated? What types of publications/formats are included?
Quality	Is peer reviewed academic information included?
Search interface	How do you work the search functionality options in the search screens and results screens? Does the database allow for citation searching? Is controlled vocabulary searching available? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the interface screens?
Search syntax or algorithm	Does the database have the desired search syntax? What do the results show about how the search works?
Ease of use	Is the database easy to access and to use? Is it easy to save searches, create alerts, export results, and download PDF? Is it easy to refine your searches, e.g. to date, publication type, subject?

How to pick suitable databases for your research

Databases can be used for many different aspects of your research from fishing, developing your research proposal, writing your literature review, conducting research activities, writing up your results and discussing the significance and impact of your research.

Searching databases at the start of your research journey can:

• inspire creative ideas
• consolidate your understanding of your research area
• help you write a good research question
• accelerate the research proposal writing process
• provide the framework of study for the duration of your degree.

Explore a few different databases to see what sorts of information they contain. Ask your supervisory team and your Liaison Librarian for guidance on what databases may be appropriate to answering your research question. Once you have decided on the most relevant databases for your topic, from the database page click on Add to your HiQ Launchpad, to create a quick link.