Types of Databases
Databases can be organized by the scope of the information they contain. Being aware of what this scope is can be helpful in selecting a database to begin your information search.
- General interest databases include information from several different subject areas and disciplines.
- Discipline-specific databases include information for several related subject areas.
- Subject-specific databases focus on providing information for one particular subject.
The Undergraduate Library's Find Articles Guide has databases listed by specific discipline/subject categories for your assistance.
General Interest Databases
General interest databases are a great place to begin research or for a general topic. These databases contain the broadest range of materials and include many different subjects and disciplines. Examples of general interest databases include:
- Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) - Identifies magazine and journals articles in most subject areas including social sciences, humanities, education, computer sciences, engineering, medical sciences, and ethnic studies.
- Academic OneFile (Infotrac) - This multi-disciplinary database provides access to over 3000 journals, with links to full text for over half of the journals.
- Periodical Abstracts (First Search) - Identifies articles from general and academic journals covering business, current affairs, economics, literature, psychology, religion, women's studies and other fields. Indexes over 2000 journals and magazines.
- LexisNexis Academic (Lexis-Nexis) - Identifies articles from journals, newspapers and reference books.
Discipline-Specific Databases
Discipline-based databases are more focused then general interest databases. These databases include materials in several related subject areas. Materials are usually only from professional/trade publications and scholarly/academic journals. If you are having trouble finding information on your topic in general interest databases, try a discipline-based database.
- Ethnic NewsWatch - Identifies full text access for 200 newspapers and journals of the ethnic, minority, and native press.
- PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service - Contains information sources for government, political science, social science, and related topics.
- SocINDEX (EBSCO) - Identifies articles in all areas of sociology including anthropology, criminology, ethnic & racial studies, gender studies, politics, religion, rural sociology, social psychology, and urban studies.
- Sport Discus - Scholarly and popular information on all aspects of sports, exercise, training, etc.
Subject-Specific Databases
If you are doing in-depth research on a topic, you will want to use subject-specific databases. These databases usually only contain materials from professional/trade publications and scholarly/academic journals. Below are some examples, but a list of all available subjects can be viewed on the Online Research Resources page.
- ABI/INFORM - Identifies articles on business, finance, and management topics from regional, U.S. and international publications.
- CINAHL (EBSCO) - (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) - Authoritative coverage of the literature related to nursing and allied health.
- Historical Abstracts - Scholarly articles on the history of the world from 1450-present.
- PsycInfo - Identifies articles, books and dissertations in psychology and related subjects.
Updated: 11/12/2007
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