LibGuides: A Guide to Primary Scientific Articles: How do I find primary scientific articles?

Library Databases

The best place to look for primary scientific articles are the journal databases provided by the library, as well as our subscription to the journal Science. The recommended databases below contain primary scientific articles. If you have the option, limit your search to articles or scholarly articles. Look for headings like "Abstract," "Materials and Method," or "Results."

ScienceDirect This link opens in a new window
Gale Science in Context This link opens in a new window
JSTOR Scholarly Research This link opens in a new window
Science This link opens in a new window

Google Scholar

Google Scholar
Depending on the information you need, Google Scholar may be a good place to start research since it functions similarly to an internet search engine. It is best to use Google Scholar as a preliminary search, not your only search, as it may help you determine new or appropriate keywords to use later in a library database. Relying on Google Scholar exclusively may limit your search. Make sure you use the Advanced Search, located under the menu on the top left corner.

Open Access Portals

Open access portals provide access to journals and articles that are available free of charge and without restrictions on publication.

Directory of Open Access Journals
"DOAJ is a unique and extensive index of diverse open access journals from around the world, driven by a growing community, committed to ensuring quality content is freely available online for everyone."
BioMed Central
"BMC has an evolving portfolio of some 300 peer-reviewed journals, sharing discoveries from research communities in science, technology, engineering and medicine."
PubMed Central
"PubMed Central® (PMC) is a free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM)."