Specialized Databases
While Academic Search Complete is useful for almost any topic, there are also many databases which focus on specific areas.
Pick your own topic or select one from these
- Harry Potter books
- Future of cable TV
- Genetic engineering
- Barton Springs
- International Adoption
- Evolution
- Civil rights movement
- International peacekeeping
- The Gulf War
- Censorship of music
- Figure out which general area your topic fits into below.
- Click on the link to find information about databases in that area.*
- OPTIONAL: If you found a good source in the specialized databases, list it on your worksheet.
* Some of the databases require specific browser settings. If you are having problems accessing any of them, please consult this link: http://library.austincc.edu/help/offcampus2.php, or contact a librarian.
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Humanities (Art, Music, Literature, Film and TV, etc.)
The humanities often emphasize historical information in art, literature, philosophy and religion, but in areas such as music and film, very current information is used a lot.
Click on the titles below to try them out. They will open in a new browser window. Close that window to return to this page.
Sample Reference Sources (for background, facts, biographies)
Gale Literary Databases - Three databases, which can be searched together or separately, on literary criticism and author biographies.
Encyclopedia Britannica - Useful for almost any topic. Best used for historic topics and people. For example, this would be good for Beethoven but not for Britney Spears.
Sample Periodical Index (for current and specific information)
MasterFILE Premier - Useful for most Humanities topics, including very current films and music.
If you find a good source for your paper, be sure to print it or email it to yourself.
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Health and Medicine
Researchers in the fields of health and medicine are often divided between professionals needing advanced technical information and "average" people interested in more basic information. Current information is extremely important, especially for professionals.
Click on the titles below to try them out. They will open in a new browser window. Close that window to return to this page.
Sample Reference Source (for background, facts, statistics)
Merck Manuals - Online Medical Library - Reliable information on a variety of health-related topics. The level of information is understandable by college-level users. (This source is actually free to anyone using the web. Unlike the other sources we've discussed, the library doesn't have to pay to access it.)
Periodical Indexes (for current and specific information)
For professionals doing research:
Pubmed - Indexing to advanced medical journals. The full text of articles is not included, so you have to use the a library to get copies. A very important source of information. (This is from the National Library of Medicine, part of the federal government.)For the "average" student doing research:
Health Source - Consumer Edition - In addition to including the full text of articles, there are some pamphlets and reference sources.If you find a good source for your paper, be sure to print it or email it to yourself.
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Business and Economics
Research in business and economics often involves very current information about companies, stocks, workplace issues, and economic trends. Sometimes historical information and explanations of theory are needed for deeper analysis.
Click on the titles below to try them out. They will open in a new browser window. Close that window to return to this page.
Sample Reference Source (for company information, facts, statistics)
Hoover's Online - Current and historical information on specific companies. Includes links to online articles and extensive financial information.
Sample Periodical Index (for current and specific information)
Business Source Complete - Full text of articles from over 7,000 business magazines and journals covering management, economics, finance, accounting, international business.
If you find a good source for your paper, be sure to print it or email it to yourself.
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Science and Technology
Research in science and technology topics often involves starting with basic hard facts--formulas, standards, taxonomies, statistics, etc.--from reference sources, then getting the current information from articles.
Many workforce and technical fields have specialized industry publications, such as Air Conditioning Heating & Refrigeration News.
Click on the titles below to try them out. They will open in a new browser window. Close that window to return to this page.Sample Reference Sources (for background, formulas, statistics)
AccessScience - Excellent encyclopedia of science and technology. Somewhat advanced.
Encyclopedia of Life Sciences - After you do a search, results are marked whether they are introductory or advanced.
Sample Periodical Indexes (for current and specific information)
Science and Technology Collection - Full text articles from over 800 periodicals covering science and technology issues.
If you find a good source for your paper, be sure to print it or email it to yourself.
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Local And Regional
If your topic is very oriented toward the Austin area or toward Texas, sources that have a regional approach can be great. While many of the sources listed in other areas--Business, Sciences, etc.--will have some information on our area, most of their material will not be specifically about us. For example, the sources below would have information on population growth in the Austin area, but probably won't have a lot of information about population growth in general. It's frequently a trade-off, so you need to look at both local and national sources.
Click on the titles below to try them out. They will open in a new browser window. Close that window to return to this page.
Sample Reference Source (for facts, dates, statistics, etc.)
Handbook of Texas Online - A large encyclopedia covering our state's history, geography, and culture.
Sample Periodical Indexes (for current and specific information)
Texas Reference Center - Full text of articles from several Texas magazines and journals, plus some reference books..
Austin American-Statesman - Full text of articles from our local newspaper, going back to 1989.
If you find a good source for your paper, be sure to print it or email it to yourself.
