Academic Databases

Google Scholar provides a broad search of scholarly literature across many disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites. It indexes a vast amount of content, making it a good starting point for research. However, it lacks the advanced search features and curated content found in specialized databases. Its citation analysis tools are useful, but can be less accurate than those in dedicated citation databases.

Web of Science is a subscription-based service that provides access to a curated collection of scholarly journals, conference proceedings, and books. It is known for its rigorous selection criteria and comprehensive citation indexing. Web of Science's strength lies in its ability to track citations and provide insights into the impact of research. While its coverage is not as broad as Google Scholar, it offers higher quality and more reliable information. It is a valuable resource for researchers who need to conduct systematic literature reviews or analyze research trends.

Scopus is another subscription-based database that offers a broad range of scholarly literature, including journals, conference proceedings, and books. It is known for its comprehensive coverage of science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM) fields, but also includes a significant amount of content from the social sciences and humanities. Scopus provides advanced search and analysis tools, making it a valuable resource for researchers who need to conduct in-depth literature reviews or analyze research trends. It is a competitor to Web of Science.

JSTOR is a digital library that provides access to a wide range of scholarly journals, books, and primary sources. It is particularly strong in the humanities and social sciences, but also includes content from other disciplines. JSTOR is known for its high-quality digitized content and its focus on preserving and making accessible important scholarly works. It is a valuable resource for researchers who need to access historical materials or conduct interdisciplinary research. Access is typically provided through institutional subscriptions, though some content is available for free.

PubMed is a free database that provides access to biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. It is a crucial resource for researchers in the fields of medicine, biology, and related disciplines. PubMed offers advanced search features, including MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), which allows users to search for specific concepts and topics. Its comprehensive coverage of biomedical literature makes it an essential tool for healthcare professionals and researchers. The database is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

CORE provides access to open access research papers. It harvests research outputs from open access repositories and journals. CORE offers access to millions of open access articles, making it a valuable resource for researchers who are looking for free and readily available information. It's a great option for researchers and students who want to avoid paywalls and access research without subscription fees. The platform aims to aggregate and make accessible all open access research outputs worldwide.