Academic databases

Definition

Academic databases are organized collections of scholarly articles, research papers, and other academic resources that provide researchers access to credible and peer-reviewed information. These databases are essential for students and scholars to gather reliable data when analyzing films or other subjects, ensuring that their findings are backed by valid research.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Academic databases often require subscriptions or institutional access, which can limit their availability to students or researchers outside of educational institutions.
2. These databases can cover a wide range of disciplines, making them valuable for interdisciplinary research, particularly when analyzing films from different cultural or theoretical perspectives.
3. Popular academic databases include JSTOR, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost, each offering unique collections tailored to various fields of study.
4. Using academic databases allows researchers to filter results based on specific criteria such as publication date, type of resource, or subject area, making it easier to find relevant materials.
5. Many academic databases also provide tools for exporting citations in various formats, simplifying the process of referencing sources in research papers.

Review Questions

• How do academic databases support the research process for film analysis?
  • Academic databases support the research process by providing access to credible sources that contain peer-reviewed articles and scholarly discussions about films. They allow researchers to explore various perspectives, theories, and critical analyses that inform their understanding of a film. By utilizing these resources, students can enhance their arguments with validated information, making their analyses more robust and well-supported.
• Discuss the importance of metadata in navigating academic databases for film research.
  • Metadata plays a crucial role in navigating academic databases as it provides essential information about each resource, such as author details, publication date, and subject categories. This structured data allows users to quickly filter search results and identify relevant articles that pertain specifically to their film analysis. Without effective metadata, researchers would face difficulties in locating pertinent studies and may miss valuable insights that could enrich their work.
• Evaluate the impact of accessibility issues related to academic databases on the research capabilities of students studying film.
  • Accessibility issues surrounding academic databases significantly impact students' research capabilities, especially for those without institutional affiliations. Limited access can prevent students from obtaining critical scholarly resources needed for thorough film analysis. This creates an inequity in research opportunities, as those with access can delve deeper into existing literature while others may struggle to find sufficient resources. This disparity could lead to incomplete analyses and hinder the overall academic growth of students who cannot access the wealth of information available through these databases.

Related terms

peer-reviewed journals: Scholarly publications in which articles are evaluated by experts in the field before being published, ensuring high academic standards.

metadata: Structured information that describes the content of a resource in a database, helping users find and access relevant materials more efficiently.

citation: A reference to a source of information that allows readers to locate the original material, crucial for maintaining academic integrity.