Much of your research for your paper will come from scholarly journals located in databases. This page includes:
What is a database?
A database is a searchable collection of information. Library databases may contain newspapers, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and book chapters.
All databases are different, yet they share some commonalities:
Explore all ECU databases here.
You can filter by subject, search for a keyword like "religion," or search for a database by name. If you need to navigate to this page from the library homepage, simply click on "Databases."
Image from Unsplash.com
Don't be spooked! Databases are an easy way to find information related to your topic.
This video gives a brief overview of databases and their contents.
Recommended Databases
The following databases and journals are suggested for topics related to your course, but keep in mind that others may be useful as well.
Academic Video Online (AVON)
An extensive, searchable collection of academic videos ranging many disciplines. A good general reference starting point for research. Topics include: anthropology, business, counseling, film, health, history, and music among others. Formats include documentaries, interviews, performances, news programs and newsreels.
Example for RELI 3700: Try searching for "UFO" to find interviews, the Ancient Aliens video series, and more.
A collection of full-text scholarly articles from across the humanities. Topics include: art and design, history, philosophy, music, literature, theater, and cultural studies.
Example for RELI 3700: Search for "ghost stories" to read example stories and learn about the history of haunted tales.
Provides information on topics such as biblical studies, biblical archaeology, world religions, church history, and religion in social issues. Covers the research literature of religion in 35 languages.
Example for RELI 3700: Search for the keyword "ghosts" to find articles with titles like Domesticating the Dead: Ghosts and Spirit Possession in Late Medieval Italy.
Authoritative texts covering the humanities and social sciences with a concentration on political and cultural history, literature, philosophy, religious studies, music and the arts.
Example for RELI 3700: Search for "spiritualist" to find articles on the history of this metaphysical movement.
Provides thousands of high quality streaming videos, including documentaries, interviews, training videos, historical speeches and newsreels and more.
Example for RELI 3700: Try searching this database for the word "parapsychology"
A collection of journals and newspapers encompassing all major subject areas, including Business, Health and Medical, Language and Literature, Social Sciences, Education, Science and Technology, as well as core titles in the Performing and Visual Arts, History, Religion, Philosophy.
ProQuest Central is a good general database that covers a lot of topics. It likely contains articles that are relevant to most of the courses you are taking,
Provides articles published by the American Psychological Association (APA). Definitive source of full-text, peer-reviewed scholarly and scientific articles in psychology.
Example for RELI 3700: Search this database for "supernatural" to find articles related to religious beliefs and psychological phenomena.
From the American Psychological Association (APA). Includes blend of abstracts, indexes and links to full-text of scholarly journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations. Topics include: applied psychology, communication systems, developmental psychology, e, experimental human and animal psychology, personality, psychological and physical disorders, and more.
Example for RELI 3700: Search for "possession" to find articles related to spirit possession and mental disorders.
Contains blend of abstracts, indexing and full-text sources. Covers a diverse selection of religious and spiritual studies.
Example for RELI 3700: Use this database for topics related to religious phenomena and beliefs.