Databases 101: Basic and Advanced Searching Guide: Choosing a Database

FDU Libraries subscribes to about 200 databases. While you can sort our A-Z databases list by subject, type of resource, and vendor, selecting a database also involves considering to yourself:

1. What is the subject of my search?
   • • What class am I researching for?
   • • What are the guidelines of my assignment? 
2. Do I need a subject-specific or multidisciplinary database?
   • • Does my topic fall under a wide-range of subjects?
   • • Is my topic specific to one area of research?
3. What type of materials am I looking for? 
   • • Do I need a scholarly, peer-reviewed article for a research paper?
   • • Am I searching for an old article from a newspaper?
   • • Is a bibliography or encyclopedia entry what I am looking for?

After answering these questions, it is time to choose a database for your search.

Choosing a database can be done with our A to Z Databases list. From the Libraries' homepage, select the A to Z Databases icon. You will see a list of all our databases in alphabetical order. From here, you can sort the databases by subject area, database type, and more. A good place to start is to select the subject area that best matches your topic. Use the information about the resource to determine if it is an appropriate resource for you.
 

When in doubt, select one of the Libraries' multidisciplinary databases such as Academic OneFile, Academic Search Premier, or Research Library. These databases cover a wide-range of topics.