"HOW TO" GUIDE FOR FINDING RESEARCH ARTICLES
Written by Stuart Booth, Covenant College, Class of 2005

The biology commons and the Covenant library periodical sections have a good selection of science magazines containing research articles, but if you want to research something specific it is much easier to use the online library system. The library system can be accessed at http://scots.covenant.edu/library or you can click on the "Covenant College Library" link in the Student Resource Center.

The easiest way to find full-text research articles is through "E-RESOURCES." Once you've clicked the e-resources button, there are many different ways you can search for research articles, but we will just discuss the two easiest ways.

First Method: Scroll down and click JSTOR under the "Full Text Periodical Databases." The search engine should appear and you should be able to search for a desired topic. It is a good idea that you first click on "advanced search" and then check the boxes "Article" and "General Science." This will better limit the search to articles that you want. Note that JSTOR does not provide very recent articles. Most date back at least 2 years so JSTOR is not a good source for current developments.

Second Method: At the E-RESOURCES page, click the GALILEO globe button. Galileo has a collection of databases with journals in them. You can click on the "Science & Technology" tab and select a specific area in which you would like the look for articles, or simply click the "Academic Search Premier" button right in the middle of the page. The "Academic Search Premier" takes you to a search engine where you have some options. I recommend checking the "full-text" box before performing a search on a desired topic.

Remember that not all articles that the search finds are necessarily research articles. Skim read an article to make sure it has the characteristics of a research article before deciding to go with it.

Have fun researching!