What are the advantages and disadvantages of using different types of databases for your research?

1 Bibliographic databases

Bibliographic databases are collections of records that describe the basic information of a source, such as the author, title, date, publisher, and subject. They do not provide the full text of the source, but they may link to it or indicate where it can be found. Bibliographic databases are useful for finding a wide range of sources on a topic, especially books and journals, and for identifying the most relevant and authoritative ones. However, they may not cover all the sources that exist on a topic, and they may not be updated frequently. You may also need to use multiple bibliographic databases to cover different disciplines or time periods.

2 Full-text databases

Full-text databases are collections of records that provide the complete content of a source, such as the text, images, graphs, tables, and references. They allow you to read, download, print, or email the source directly from the database. Full-text databases are convenient for accessing the source without having to locate it elsewhere, and for searching within the source for specific keywords or phrases. However, they may not include all the sources that are relevant to your topic, and they may have limited search options or features. You may also need to pay a subscription fee or have a library account to access some full-text databases.

4 Citation databases

Citation databases are collections of records that provide information on how many times a source has been cited by other sources, and who has cited it. They help you to measure the impact and influence of a source on a topic, and to find related sources that have cited or been cited by it. Citation databases are valuable for identifying the most influential and current sources on a topic, and for tracing the development and evolution of a topic. However, they may not cover all the sources that cite or are cited by a source, and they may have different criteria or methods for counting citations. You may also need to use other databases to find the full text or abstract of the source.

5 Multimedia databases

Multimedia databases are collections of records that provide access to non-textual sources, such as images, audio, video, maps, or datasets. They help you to find and use visual or auditory evidence for your research, and to enhance your presentation or communication of your findings. Multimedia databases are diverse and dynamic, and they may include sources that are not available in other formats. However, they may not have consistent or standardized metadata or quality criteria for the sources, and they may have limited search options or features. You may also need to check the copyright or licensing terms of the sources before using them.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?