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The Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

This step-by-step guide will assist you in finding information and resources to guide you through the research process.

Tip!

Off-campus access to most of the Library's databases requires your TXWES email and password. If you have problems connecting from off-campus, it is probably an issue with your Ramlink account. You can contact IT at 817-531-4428.

What Are Databases? Why Do We Need Them?

Video Summary
A Yavapai College student explains the benefits of using library databases for research over searching the web.

Choosing a Database

Library databases provide access to scholarly journal articles, popular magazines, conference proceedings, technical reports, newspaper articles, and more. To identify the most appropriate database for your research topic:

  • check to see if there is a "Guide by Subject" guide that covers your subject area or topic
  • consult the database descriptions on the Library's Database A-Z page

If you need help locating the most relevant database, contact a reference librarian.

Scholarly Journals vs. Trade Publications vs. Magazines

Scholarly articles are not the only kinds of articles that you might find in the course of your research. You may also encounter articles from popular publications/magazines such as Time Magazine or Scientific American. You may also find articles from trade publications such as Publishers Weekly.

Scholarly articles are not inherently better than other publications, but they are generally more suited to meeting your research needs primarily because they are written by credentialed experts who cite their sources.

Peer Review in 3 Minutes

Video Summary
How do articles get peer reviewed? What role does peer review play in scholarly research and publication? This video will explain.

Created by NCSU Library
This video is published under a Creative Commons 3.0 BY-NC-SA US license.

Article Formats

Depending on the database you are using, articles may be displayed in different formats:

  • Index: Includes only the article’s citation information (e.g. author, title, date, volume, etc.). Neither a summary, nor the full-text of the article are available.
  • Abstract: Includes the article’s citation information and a brief summary of the article's content. Abstracts do not include the full-text article.
  • Full-text: Includes an electronic copy of the actual article. Depending on the database, the article may be available in HTML format, .pdf format (displays the article as it originally appeared in the magazine with graphics and pictures), or both.

Parts of a Journal Article Reference Citation

Knowing what parts of a journal article make up a reference citation, is helpful when searching for articles cited in other resources.

Image from: Deakin University Library's Finding Articles LibGuide

Helpful Guides