Instructor: Jonathan Yeh
Librarian: Andi Bartelstein

I. Topic analysis, search strategy, search terms

Identifying and refining a research topic

Identifying relevant information sources

Brainstorming search terms

Constructing effective searches using operators ("and," "or," "not")

II. Finding articles

Use the databases below to find articles, books, book chapters, and other publications on your topic (they may or may not be available full text online, and may or may not be owned by JHU).

STOP!  If you live off campus, in order to access the JHU-licensed databases below from home you'll need to set up your home computer with the JHSecure VPN (Virtual Private Network) software.

Academic Search Premier  (All US JHU)

CQ Researcher  (All US JHU)

Family and Society Studies Worldwide  (All US JHU)

PAIS International  (All US JHU)

Find additional databases to search

TIP: Want to find out whether a publication is scholarly or popular, liberal or conservative, feminist, progressive, based in a particular religious tradition, or what???  Look it up in:

Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory   (All JHU (incl. International)) Search for the name of the journal or magazine in Ulrich's Periodicals Directory to get information about a publication, its audience, and the types of articles it usually publishes.

III. Finding books 

Access to books and other full-length materials (i.e., not articles) owned by the JHU Libraries.  What to do if you need something we don't own.

Browse same-sex marriage subject headings in the JHU Libraries catalog (will open in a new window).

Browse gay marriage subject headings in the JHU Libraries catalog (will open in a new window).

IV. Evaluating information on the Web

Anyone can publish on the Web -- how do you determine the validity of information you find?  Is it suitable for your purposes?

V. Citing sources

APA, MLA, Chicago styles and lots more.  Plus RefWorks!

VI. Other useful links 

• JHU Government Publications, Maps, and Law Library (on A-Level).

• Can't I just search the Web?