Article Databases
- Web of Science This link opens in a new window
A citation database with coverage in the physical and social sciences. Contains 150 million records.
- Environment Complete This link opens in a new window
Provides coverage of interdisciplinary environmental journals including ecology, energy, natural resources, & pollution. - GreenFILE This link opens in a new window
Access resources on environmental topics, including articles, reports, and government documents on sustainability, ecology, and environmental impact. Effective May 13, EBSCO databases will debut new features and an updated design. Learn more.
- PubMed This link opens in a new window
A free resource offering access to a vast database of biomedical literature, including articles, clinical studies, and reviews, supporting research in health and life sciences.
What Is A Primary Research Article?
Primary research articles
- are original scientific reports of new research findings
- do not include review articles, which summarize the research literature on a particular subject, or articles using meta-analyses, which analyze pre-published data
- usually include the following sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References
- are peer-reviewed (examined by expert(s) in the field before publication)
- a peer-reviewed article is not the same as a review article, which summarizes the research literature on a particular subject
Secondary sources
- are summaries or interpretations of original research – not the original research itself
- are often useful and easier-to-read summaries of research in an area
- references or citations can point the way to useful primary research articles.
- acceptable formats may include books (find these through the library catalog) and review articles (articles which organize and critically analyze the research of others on a topic)
- blogs, YouTube videos, newspaper articles, book reviews, press releases and .com websites are NOT among formats usually appropriate as sources in scientific research
Evaluating Resources
Adapted from Reynolds Community College Libraries
