Scholarly Articles

It can be helpful to start your searching in a general, multidiscipline database. Use OneSearch to search most Saint Mary's library resources with just one search, including scholarly articles. Google Scholar indexes the full text or metadata of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines.

For a list of recommended databases in your discipline, see our Subject Guides.

• Type in a topic or concept. Simpler is better.
• Add relevant words if you get too many results.
• Use words that experts or practitioners would use.
• Use only the most important words, rather than a full question or sentence.
• Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and parentheses for more relevant results.
• Enter the title in quotes when searching for a specific book or article (e.g., “Grapes of Wrath”).

Refine your search using limiters, which in most databases (including OneSearch) are located in the left sidebar. Common limiters include:

• Peer-reviewed Journals/Articles - restrict your search to just peer-reviewed journals/articles
• Publication Date - restrict your search by just looking at recent publications
• Resource Type - articles, magazines, books, book chapters, etc

OneSearch has two useful limiters at the top of the left sidebar

• Expand My Results - discover and request resources from other libraries.
• Search in Full Text - searches the text of the entire article for your search terms

For more in-depth information and personalized advice, consult a librarian. Send us a chat, an email, or schedule an appointment. We're happy to help with any stage of the research process, whether you're deciding on a topic, struggling with keywords, or need to find full text.