Academic Databases and Journals
Learn to use academic databases to find peer-reviewed research.
For serious research, academic databases provide access to peer-reviewed studies, scholarly articles, and primary sources that you cannot find through a regular Google search.
What Are Academic Databases?
Academic databases are searchable collections of scholarly articles, research papers, and academic publications. They are curated for quality and reliability, making them excellent sources for research.
- JSTOR: Academic articles across many disciplines
- PubMed: Medical and health research
- ERIC: Education research
- Google Scholar: Free access to many academic papers
- Your school library database: Often provides free access to premium databases
Your school library often provides free access to academic databases that would otherwise cost money. Ask your librarian what databases are available to you.
When using academic databases, use specific search terms, use filters to narrow results by date or subject, and look for articles with high citation counts — these are often the most influential in their field.
Ready to test your knowledge?
3 questions · Grade 4 level