BO4102: Research Methods for Herbal Science

A database pulls together thousands of journals and articles that you search across with a single query.  Databases are organized by subject and provide searchable fields such as topic, author and title.

Here is how to choose appropriate database(s)

• Look at the library’s database list and think about your topic before choosing appropriate ones. Read the descriptions of the databases and explore the About/Help resources within them if you need more information.

• Databases often focus on specific subject areas, For example, PubMed is a good place to look for studies on medicinal plants in relation to health conditions..
• Click on All Subjects above the A-Z databases list to find ones most likely to have relevant information.

Why can't I just Google to find research?  Being an efficient searcher means knowing when to use what tool. You will find the most relevant scholarly journal articles (both primary and secondary) when you search in databases.

Watch this video, Library Databases versus Search Engines, to learn about how their differences affect your searches. (Created by the Wellington Medical and Health Sciences Library, 2010).