Primary Sources: A primary source is an original, firsthand, or direct piece of information or evidence created at the time of the event or by an individual with direct knowledge or experience of the subject. Examples of primary sources include diaries, letters, photographs, speeches, interviews, and original research studies.
Secondary Sources: A secondary source is an interpretation, analysis, or summary of primary sources or events by someone who was not directly involved or present at the time. Examples include books, articles, documentaries, and essays that provide commentary, analysis, or context about historical events, research findings, or other topics. Secondary sources rely on primary sources for their information.
A scholarly article, often called an academic or peer-reviewed article, is a written work that presents original research, analysis, or discussion on a specific topic within an academic or professional field. These articles are typically published in scholarly journals, which are periodicals dedicated to academic and research content. Scholarly articles are characterized by their rigorous review process, where experts in the field (peers) evaluate the article's quality and validity before publication.
The databases that will be the most helpful for you will depend on your topic. For a database related to a specific subject, you can view the database page on the library website and then filter by subject. The list of databases below covers a broad range of subjects and can be a great place to start when searching for articles.
Search many EBSCO databases at once; including Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, MasterFILE Premier, and Regional Business News databases.Coverage spans every area of academic study and general interest subject area and offers information dating as far back as the 1800s.
An archive of scholarly full-text journals in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
The JSTOR archive holds the complete digitized back runs of core scholarly journals, starting with the very first issues, some dating as far back as the 1600s. Subject areas include the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
JSTOR includes various collections, and the St. Kate's Library has purchased the Arts and Sciences Collections I-VII and the Biological Sciences Collection. These collections include subsets for ecology & botany, language & literature, and music.
JSTOR's agreements with publishers often include a "moving wall," which means that the most recent years (typically 3-5 years) are not available.
It can be difficult to find the full-text for certain articles. The information below walks you through how to access it.
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