I need journal articles on a topic.
I want "primary literature";
which index should I use?

Indexes are used to identify articles on a particular topic or by a particular author. Indexes often include abstracts, or short summaries of the articles. Indexes usually do not contain the articles themselves, only citations, but some indexes link to the digital full text of some articles. Some indexes indicate whether a journal is available at Dartmouth in print. Use the Dartmouth Library Catalog to best determine print and digital availability of journals.

Each index works differently. Look for online help screens to learn the index's search rules. Some indexes (MEDLINE, PsycINFO) have subject headings with thesauruses and may provide mapping to lead you to the correct terms to describe your topic. Other indexes (Web of Science, BIOSIS) require keyword searching. For keyword searching, think about synonyms, plurals, and various conjugations; learn how to truncate to look for root words with multiple suffixes and to combine terms with operators like AND, OR, and NOT.

Choose a topic:

• Agriculture
  
• Biology
  
• Ecology
  
• Medicine
  
• Nursing
  
• Psychology/Psychiatry
  

[Return to "Where do I start?"]