Databases are searchable banks of academic resources (typically journal articles​ but they also include dissertations, book chapters, etc.). The Library has subscriptions to lots of different databases; some of these are subject specific (e.g. APA PsycInfo), whilst others are multi-disciplinary (e.g. Scopus or Academic Search Complete). Most databases provide the full-text for
How to search
Databases are best searched using keyword searching. This means breaking your search question or topic down into the key concepts which define it. You then need to think of alternative keywords/synonyms which can be used for each concept to make your search as inclusive as possible.
For example, if you wanted to find literature relating to the impact of caffeine on the performance of cyclists, this search can be broken down into three concepts: caffeine, cyclists and performance. You would then think of alternative keywords for each concept. For example, for performance you could also include keywords such as endurance or speed. Caffeine could also include coffee or energy drinks. You would then combine your search with the Boolean operators AND/OR which tell the database how to run the search (the advanced search screen facilitates this).
Use speech marks to search for phrases - e.g., "energy drinks" - this tells the database to search for this exact phrase with the words in that order rather than two separate keywords which don't need to appear together. Truncation (typically the * symbol) is another really useful device to use when searching. This tells the database to search for any keywords beginning with the truncated root - for example caffein* will find caffeine and caffeinated drinks. And cycli* will find cyclist, cyclists and cycling.
See the screenshot below to see how to structure this search using the Advanced search and Boolean operators.
Comprehensive sports and sports medicine database with full-text coverage dating back to 1985. Includes content from therapy to recreation, focusing on all aspects of fitness and health relating to sports medicine and related fields.
Interactive 3D virtual models of the human head, torso, limbs and joints.
You can register for a Personal Profile to add customisation to your searching.
Provides access to Association for Physical Education members' area and includes the Physical Education Matters journal archive.
Access to AfPE requires an additional log-in.
Abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed research literature from scientific, technical, medical and social sciences fields and, more recently, also in the arts and humanities.
Shared off-air recording and media archive service. Programmes can only be viewed in the UK.
You will need to register with the site before you can access the content.
Abstract and index database comprising more than 24 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books.
Access to authoritative medical information on medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, pre-clinical sciences, and much more. Created by the National Library of Medicine, MEDLINE uses MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) indexing with tree, tree hierarchy, subheadings and explosion capabilities to search citations from over 4,800 current biomedical journals.
Full text for nursing and allied health journals with coverage dating back to 1981. Includes RCNi journals.
The American Psycholgical Association's database of abstracts of journal articles, book chapters, books and dissertations in psychology and related disciplines. Coverage is from the 19th century to the present.
Full-text access to scientific, technical & medical peer-reviewed journals and book chapters.
Abstract and index database of articles from academic journals covering the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities.
Multi-disciplinary journals, reports and proceedings.
The most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world, spanning from 1743 to the present day and offering full text for graduate works added since 1997, along with selected full text for works written prior to 1997. It contains a significant amount of new international dissertations and theses both in citations and in full text.
If you wish to access full text theses, please make sure the "Full text" option is ticked under the search bar.
Signing into MyEBSCO (just click on the top left sign-in option - there is no need to create an account) will allow you to:
