Whether you're searching the Library Catalog for books or the databases listed below for journal articles, be sure to set some limits to narrow your search by utilzing the facets on the left side of the page.
Different databases index different sets of journals. Use the one (or a couple) that best suits the kind of information you're looking for. DO NOT limit to "full text only" (use the Find It! button) and DO limit to peer-reviewed journal articles.
Use some of the tips below to strengthen your web search:
Currency (When?)
When was the article published? If the article is on a website, when was the page last updated? Are links to other sites still active?
Relevance (What?)
Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)? Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
Authority (Who?)
Who wrote the article? What are the credentials of the author? How can I find out more about the author?
Accuracy (Where?)
Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been reviewed or refereed? Can you verify any of the information in another source? Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
Purpose / Bias (Why?)
What is the purpose of the periodical? What does the author say is the purpose of the article? Is the article objective or is only one point of view presented? Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
Your BEST resource for citing any of your sources in proper APA style is to use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition which you can find at King Library. Most databases offer a citation, but be sure to take those as suggestions as they are often incorrect.
When you search a database for a "Full Text" item, you are only searching through that particular database for the document in full-text, and not our entire collection. An item may exist as a "Full Text" selection within a different database.
If you don't find an item as full-text in the database you're searching, use the "Find It" button to cross-search other databses for that same item. You may discover that we have electronic access to that material after all.