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How to Read an Academic Article: Where to Search for Articles

Guide to help new humanities and social science scholars with finding and using relevant research articles

Where to Search for Articles

Great places to search for articles include:

Databases: To find the best databases to search for articles on your topic, consult the subject- specific research (Lib)Guides created by librarians with expertise in different fields. These Guides will save you significant time in identifying the best places to begin searching for articles!

UC Library Search provides access to UCSD's Library Catalog and a broader collection (under Articles, Books, and More) with brings together all of the UC Library Collections and most databases.  Using "Articles, Books, and More" is therefore a great way to search for specific articles.  Use the facet menu on the left to narrow down to articles, online resources, etc.

Google Scholar is a robust search engine finding relevant articles for every subject imaginable.  By clicking on the 3 horizontal lines in the upper left-hand corner of the landing page, you can switch to an advanced search which will help you use the search strategies outlined on the next page of this Guide.