Introduction

In Brief: Research Topic

Step 1: Search Terms

Step 2: Search Strategy

In Brief: Primary & Secondary Sources

Step 3: Finding Books

Step 4: Finding Articles

Step 5: Locating Sources

Step 6: Evaluating Sources

Step 7: Using Information Effectively

Indexes (research databases) tell what's been published on a topic. Indexes "point to" other documents. They provide access to individual articles, chapters in books, etc.

• Indexes can be specialized in focus, usually organized by subject.
• Indexes can be in print, on CD-ROM, or on the Web.
• Indexes can provide citations, abstracts, and/or fulltext access.
• The UW Libraries does not own everything that you might find in an index.
• An Index rarely tells what the library owns on a topic.

Elements of Indexes/Databases:

• Made up of records
• Records made up of fields
• Fields:
  • Author of article
  • Title of article
  • Subject Headings, Subjects, Descriptors (controlled vocabulary)
  • Source : Journal title, volume, issue, pages
  • Publisher or Agency responsible
  • May include an abstract
  • May include full text
• Example

Choosing the right index:

There are hundreds of indexes available in the library. Which one you use depends on:

• the topic; the discipline
• the format of material you want - scholarly journal articles, magazine or newspaper articles, dissertations, etc.
• the era for which you want material - primary or secondary sources

• Communication subject page
• Other Subject Pages
• All Research Databases
• Foster Business Library
  • Digital Media Industry
  • Team Consultation Web pages
  • Research Guides
• Microform & Newspaper Collections
• Other UW Library Web Sites

If you are not sure where to start, ask a reference librarian. That's what we're here for. You can always email or IM me for help also.

Step 5: Locating Sources