Image credit: Everson, B. (2012). Why? [photo]. CC. Image link.
Only finding an abstract or citation for an article when searching within databases? No worries, just look for the following linking options when you're in a database:
Below are screenshots of the full text linking options you may encounter:
Ferris Full Text: Expect this option in many databases, including PubMed and databases from the vendor Gale.
Screenshot from a Gale database showing the Ferris Full Text link:
Access options: Expect to see this in EBSCO databases. Expand the Access options pull-down menu to see full text linking options, as shown in the screenshot below.
Get full text: Expect to see this in ProQuest databases, as depicted in the screenshot below.
What is a database?? A database is "A collection of information organized in such a way that a computer program can quickly select desired pieces of data. You can think of a database as an electronic filing system" (University of Toledo Computer Science and Engineering Glossary, nd.).
So, if you want to find information on a certain topic, you can do a keyword search to find the related "files", or in this case, most likely articles.
You likely use databases all of the time, such as Google, or online shopping websites, but don't even realize that a database is what you're using.
The Databases by Major option is a quick route to find databases for your research!