Academic Databases
Research can feel overwhelming, especially when you're drowning in sources you can’t trust. That’s where academic databases come in. In this video, you’ll learn how to use these powerful tools to search smarter, find reliable sources faster, and focus on the high-quality information your research needs. Whether you’re writing a paper or preparing a project, academic databases can help you save time and boost your results.
Video Details
Standards
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About this video
When you’re researching, it’s tempting to think more sources = better work. But the real key to strong research is finding the right sources—ones that are trustworthy, current, and relevant. That’s exactly what academic databases are designed to do.
This video introduces academic databases as tools provided by most school libraries to help students access high-quality sources like journal articles, books, newspapers, reports, and more. Some databases are broad, while others are focused on specific subjects like business, history, or science.
You’ll learn how to search a database effectively—using quotation marks, synonyms, and filters to zero in on what you need. You’ll also see how to evaluate a source quickly by checking the abstract, author, and publication info, and how to access full texts and generate citations with just a few clicks.
Instead of wasting time sifting through unreliable websites, students are encouraged to ask a librarian about academic databases and make the most of this resource in every research project.
Educational Standards
In research, it's not about how many sources you have—it’s about using the right ones. This video helps learners understand how academic databases streamline the research process by making reliable information easier to find, filter, and evaluate. It encourages students to work smarter, not harder.
By the end of this video, you’ll be able to:
- Explain why quality matters more than quantity in research.
- Identify where to access academic databases through your school or library.
- Recognize the types of publications and subjects available in academic databases.
- Use search techniques to find relevant sources.
- Apply filters and read abstracts to evaluate and narrow down results efficiently.
Educational Standards
ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education defines standards for students, educators, and leaders integrating technology into learning.
ACRL
The Association of College and Research Libraries framework identifies the core concepts and practices that define information literacy in higher education.
This video maps to the following standards.
- ISTE Standard: Knowledge Constructor 2a
- ACRL Info Literacy Frame: Research as Inquiry
