Finding Information

2. - So if I can't just use Google and Wikipedia, where can I find the right sort of information?

2.4. Databases

What is a database, and why might you want to use databases to search for information? Drag the correct words into the gaps below:

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Let’s take a look at a search example of a question below taken from a past Geography exam paper.

See if you can identify the three key elements to this question.

Once you have identified the three key elements to this question you can enter the keywords into a database of your choice to start searching on the topics.

To find any Queen Mary Library subscribed databases - go to the Queen Mary Library Website. Below the Library Search is the A-Z list of Databases. This is the quickest way to access databases if you know the exact one you’d like to use.

Image showing where A-Z List of databases and Resources by Subject are located on Library website

However, if you are not sure which database to use - we suggest you go to Resources Guides by Subject and then click on your subject to see a list of databases recommended for your study discipline.

Scopus and Web of Science are both multidisciplinary databases which you can use to search any topics.

Our short video demo shows you how to search Scopus using the three keywords from the Geography exam paper question.

The search technique can also be used with many of the of the other databases which are available via the library.

Need help or advice about anything on this page? Contact the LLSE Team