Education

Much of your research will be done through our subscription databases - resources that you have access to while a student at Stony Brook. To access them from off campus, you'll be asked to enter your NetID and password.

Each database will search a specific collection of published articles ranging from peer reviewed journals, magazines, and newspapers. Some basic tips as you get started:

• Try your search in more than one database.
• Use the advanced search option for more control on how you enter your searches.
• Take time to develop a strategy - what keywords are you using? If you're not finding results, how else might you describe your topic?
• Use the database limiters to focus your results - limiting your searches to specific date ranges, language, article type, etc.
• If you don't see a full text link for an article, put in an interlibrary loan request and let the library find it for you.
• Having trouble? Consult the What Do I Do When? tab or Ask a Librarian.

Looking for empirical research? These are studies that rely on data collected through experimentation and direct observation. Keep in mind that not all peer reviewed articles will necessarily be empirical research.

While some databases have a direct way to limit results to empirical research, there are also search tips that will help you find these types of articles regardless.

• PsycInfo and PsycArticles: limit the Methodology type to Empirical Study or more specific examples:
  
  
   
• ERIC: limit to Publication Type: Reports - Research:
  
  
   
• For other databases, you can try adding keywords to your search that often appear within these types of articles:
  • empirical research
  • findings
  • instrument
  • methodology
  • qualitative or quantitative
  • questionnaire
  • results
  • study
  • survey