Research

Academic Databases

ERIC research database: complete tutorial

The ERIC database is the premier education literature database for scholarly research. Our guide covers: ✓ Basic search ✓ Search filters ✓ Thesaurus search ✓ Full text access

How to efficiently search online databases for academic research

Academic research isn't difficult if you know where and how to search for scholarly articles and research papers. Here's how to do it.

How to use Google scholar: the ultimate guide

Google Scholar is the number one academic search engine. Our guide shows you how to find papers for your research the fast way.

Is Google Scholar a database or search engine?

Google Scholar is the number one free resource to discover scientific literature, but is it an academic database or a search engine after all?

The best academic research databases [2022 update]

Your research is stuck and you need to find new sources? Take a look at our compilation of academic research databases: ✓ Scopus ✓ Web of Science ✓ PubMed ✓ ERIC ✓ STOR ✓ DOAJ ✓ Science Direct ✓ IEEE Xplore

The best academic search engines [2022 update]

Your research is stuck and you need to find new sources. Take a look at our compilation of academic search engines: ✓ Google Scholar ✓ Microsoft Academic ✓ BASE ✓ CORE

The best research databases for computer science [Update 2022]

The top 5 research databases specifically dedicated to computer science:✓ ACM Digital Library ✓ IEEE Xplore ✓ dbpl ✓ Springer LNCS ✓ Microsoft Academic

The best research databases for healthcare and medicine [Update 2022]

We have compiled the top list of research databases for healtcare, medicine and biomedical research:✓ PubMed ✓ EMBASE ✓ PMC ✓ Cochrane Library

Bibliometrics

Learn how to calculate your h-index on Google Scholar

Learn how to calculate your h-index using Google Scholar online for free, and which tools to use for a detailed analysis.

Learn how to calculate your h-index using Scopus

Learn how to assess your h-index on Scopus in 3 easy steps.

Learn how to calculate your h-index using Web of Science

Learn how to calculate your h-index using Web of Science in 3 easy steps.

The ultimate how-to-guide on the h-index

Learn what an h-index is, how to calculate it, and why it is important to know about it for your career as a scientist.

What is a good h-index?

Curious to know what a good h-index is? Read this guide to learn when an h-index is considered good.

What is a good impact factor?

Curious to know what a good impact factor is? Read this guide to learn what an impact factor is, how it is calculated, and what impact factor is considered good.

Credible Sources

Can a blog be a credible source?

You want to add a blog post to your research paper? In general, blogs are not considered to be credible sources: ➜ check out these reasons to learn more about it.

How can I find credible sources?

Sometimes it is hard to determine whether a source is credible or not. Read our guide to help you find credible sources.

Is Wikipedia a credible source?

We all ❤Wikipedia, but can you cite it in your research paper? Wikipedia is not a credible source and here is why you should only use it for preliminary research.

What are credible sources?

Credible sources are sources that are trustworthy and can be used as references in your academic papers. ➜ Make sure you are aware of these 7 questions!

What are predatory journals?

This day and age, you have to be careful where you submit your work for publication. This article helps you spot a predatory journal and has tips and tricks on what to do if you accidentally submitted to one.

Primary and Secondary Sources

Interviews: are they a primary source?

Interviews can add tremendously to your research project. Read on to quickly learn when an interview is considered a primary source.

Is a documentary a secondary source? [with examples]

You are not sure if a documentary is a secondary source? We show you when and why is a documentary either a secondary or a tertiary source.

Is a letter a primary source?

Letters are frequently used in historical research. Read on to see when a letter qualifies as a primary source.

Is a map a primary source?

You are not sure if a map is a primary source? We show you when and why is a map a primary or a secondary source.

Is a painting a primary source? [with examples]

You are not sure if a painting is a primary source? We show you when and why a painting is either a primary or a secondary source.

Is a textbook a secondary source?

You are not sure if a textbook is a secondary source? We show you when and why is a textbook either a primary, secondary or tertiary source.

Is an autobiography a primary source?

You are not sure if an autobiography is a primary source? We show you when and why is an autobiography either a primary or secondary source.

Is an encyclopedia a primary source?

You are not sure if an encyclopedia is a primary source? We show you the right way to reference an encyclopedia.

Is census data a primary source?

You are not sure if census data is a primary source? We show you when and why is census data a primary source and where to get it.

Is the US Constitution a primary source?

You are not sure if the US Constitution is a primary source? We show you when and why is the US Constitution a primary source.

Newspaper articles: primary or secondary sources?

Learn what questions to ask to see if a newspaper article really qualifies as a primary source.

Primary vs. secondary sources: how to distinguish them

Primary and secondary sources are the foundations of every research project. Learn about their differences and when to use them.

What is a primary source?

Primary sources are the most important sources when undertaking a research project. We answer the 6 most asked questions about primary sources.

What is a secondary source?

Secondary sources are your starting point when undertaking a research project. We answer the 5 most asked questions about secondary sources.

Research Methodology

How to do a content analysis

Content analysis is a research method you might come across when analyzing data. Learn what a content analysis is and how to do one in this step-by-step guide.

How to do a thematic analysis

A thematic analysis is a research method you might come across when analyzing qualitative data. Learn what a thematic analysis is and how to write one in this step-by-step guide.

How to write a rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis explores the goals and motivations of an author, the techniques they’ve used to reach their audience, and how successful these techniques were. Learn how to write an excellent rhetorical analysis in this guide.

Qualitative vs. quantitative research - what’s the difference?

Qualitative and quantitative research are effective approaches to study a subject. However, they serve different purposes and provide different results. Learn the difference between them, what they are used for, and how to analyze qualitative and quantitative research in this guide.

What is research methodology?

Having the right research methodology can be a make or break factor for your academic work. What is a research methodology and how can you get ahead?