🔍 Finding the Right Information: Using Databases for Research
In the previous unit, we explored how to develop a search strategy using keywords and Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine our searches. Now that you have a structured search strategy, it’s time to apply it in academic databases to find credible and reliable sources for your assignments and research.
Databases are organized collections of scholarly information that include:
✔️ Journal articles 📰
✔️ Conference papers 📑
✔️ Books and e-books 📚
✔️ Reports and case studies 📊
Unlike Google, academic databases provide peer-reviewed, high-quality research that is more reliable and relevant for your studies.
For Built Environment students, two essential databases you will use at Wits University are:
✅ Web of Science 🌎 – A multidisciplinary research database.
✅ EBSCOhost 📚 – A platform hosting multiple subject-specific databases.
Let’s explore how to use these databases with your search strategy! 🚀