Some Database Characteristics

Each Database is selective

Subject Matter —disciplinary perspective, period, geographical region, and more;
Scope —types, number, and years of publications covered
Depth (of indexing) —citation, abstracts, full texts, which determines their search capabilities.

Strategy in Selecting a Database

First, run a relatively broad search in them to assess their relevance on a topic;
Next, try out a variety of keyword, subject, and author searches in a chosen database.
Last, use newly learned ideas and words in other databases.

About JSTOR and Project Muse

1. The collections include journals from all disciplines— literary studies, Performing Arts, and others;

2. JStor are likely to include seminal works on a subject, which are highly original and influential, and central to the development or understanding of a subject.

3. Must check for up-to-date information from other sources when using JSTOR.

Click to browse some journals here:

Range of Keywords—Scope of a Research Question

1. Start with a general search with simply the author's name, or title of a play.

2. Examine the general search results to discover possible focuses on some typical elements; evidences you have collected in your reading of the text and you will use to support your thesis of the paper.

For example, when research on the question, "Why do musicals continue to be popular?", you may consider using analysis of evidence such as "box office", "attendance", duration of productions to prove its popularity.

Evaluation of Search Results:

In what types of journals and publications (besides literary studies) did you find relevant work? What does this suggest about research on your topic?

What sorts of audiences seem to be addressed in works on your topic? How can you tell? 

What aspects of the search results surprised you? Why? Did “peripheral materials” lead you anywhere? How?

Based on your search, how would you characterize the main approaches to your topic? What do you think are some of the central debates in the study of your topic? What is your evidence for thinking so?

Finding Full Texts

1. Click on the button to these three options:

• a. link to the full text of the article when available digitally;

• b. link to a Library Catalog search for the journal in print that contains your article.

• c. link to ILliad for requesting the article when the above two options are negative.

2. Search for a journal directly here:

• a.Tufts Library Catalog (including e-journals)
• b. Electronic journals list
• c. Use ILliad to request your article, if Tufts does not have your journal.