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Electronic databases are the principal tools used to search the scientific literature. These computer systems provide a searchable interface for massive collections of academic works—including professional journals and scholarly books—allowing researchers to locate relevant publications across various disciplines by entering specific search terms.

Academic Database

Within an academic database, each publication—such as a journal article or scholarly book—is represented by an individual record. These records typically contain essential publication details, a summary or abstract of the content, lists of descriptive keywords and standardized index terms, and a bibliography of other works cited by the publication.

Academic Database Record

PsycARTICLES is a specialized electronic database that provides full-text access to articles published in the professional journals of the American Psychological Association (APA). It serves as a direct source for obtaining complete copies of these works, which may be linked directly from records in broader index databases like PsycINFO.

PsycARTICLES

Different academic disciplines often rely on specific electronic databases for literature searches. For example, Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, and ProQuest cover all academic fields, whereas ERIC is specifically designed for education research, and PubMed focuses on medicine and related disciplines.

Examples of Academic Databases

A citation search is a method of navigating the research literature by locating the database record for a classic, foundational article on a topic, and then linking to a list of newer works that have cited it. This technique is effective because subsequent researchers investigating the same topic are highly likely to reference the original classic article in their own publications.

Citation Search

PsycINFO is a comprehensive electronic database created by the American Psychological Association (APA). Because it indexes thousands of professional journals and scholarly books dating back over a century, its scope is essentially equivalent to the entire body of research literature in psychology, making it the most critical database for psychological research.

PsycINFO

In psychological research, what is the primary purpose of an academic database?

A psychology student needs to find published research on the effects of sleep deprivation on memory. She opens an electronic database designed for searching the scientific literature and types in relevant search terms. The results she receives will primarily consist of articles from professional journals and scholarly books rather than content from popular websites and social media posts.

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