Private: Searching the Library Catalogue & Databases
Interdisciplinary Databases
The previous page addressed databases that contain information concerning only one, or a small number of related, academic subject disciplines. However, there are also databases that embrace a wider scope. These are called multi- or inter-disciplinary databases. Interdisciplinary databases do not include absolutely every academic subject in one database, but the scope is still broader than just one, or a small number of related, subjects.
Examples of interdisciplinary databases accessible via the University of Galway Library catalogue are available at the tabs below. They are organised under headings that best describe the main focus of their content: for example the database ScienceDirect is listed under “Interdisciplinary: Science” as it contains mainly information on physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, health sciences, and social sciences – however it contains some information relating to other subjects in the humanities, also. You will notice, if you consult the guide linked on the previous page, that some of these interdisciplinary databases are included in lists of databases by subject or discipline. That is because they contain a lot of content relevant to that particular subject or discipline.
It is important to consult interdisciplinary databases (and perhaps, depending on your research question, subject-specific databases in disciplines other than your own) to explore alternative ways of viewing a topic, as well as approaches to and research on the topic in other disciplines. Taking account of different perspectives and viewpoints will result in you producing a more comprehensive and considered piece of work
Broad Interdisciplinary Databases
Academic Search Complete
An excellent interdisciplinary source from EBSCO, Academic Search Complete is a comprehensive scholarly, full-text database, with more than 5,300 full-text periodicals, including 4,400 peer-reviewed journals.
Scopus
Massive abstract and citation database comprising details on scientific journals, books, conference proceedings and other sources. Link to full-text where available via SFX. Scopus’ range spans the sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, and arts & humanities.
Web of Science Core Collection
The world’s original citation index of scientific literature, contains records for over 21000 peer-reviewed, high quality journals. Web of Science includes citations for sources in the sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, and arts & humanities.
Interdisciplinary: Science
Scopus
Massive abstract and citation database comprising details on scientific journals, books, conference proceedings and other sources. Link to full-text where available via SFX. Scopus’ range spans the sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, and arts & humanities.
Web of Science Core Collection
The world’s original citation index of scientific literature, contains records for over 21000 peer-reviewed, high quality journals. Web of Science includes citations for sources in the sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, and arts & humanities.
ScienceDirect
Database for scientific research that contains the full-text of almost 1000 Elsevier Science journals in the physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, health sciences, and social sciences & humanities.
Interdisciplinary: Social Sciences and Humanities
Project Muse
Online database of peer-reviewed journal articles and e-books with a focus on the social sciences and humanities.
Digital library of over 2000 full text journals. Provides page images of back issues of the core scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences from the earliest issues to within a few years of current publication.
Social Sciences Premium Collection
Search across a range of ProQuest’s specialist index and full-text social sciences databases covering subject areas including politics, public policy, sociology, social work, anthropology, criminology, education, and linguistics. Each discipline-specific database can also be searched individually as required.
Interdisciplinary: Topic-specific
AgeLine focuses exclusively on the population aged 50+ and issues of aging. AgeLine is the premier source for the literature of social gerontology and includes aging-related content from the health sciences, psychology, sociology, social work, economics, and public policy.
GreenFILE includes scholarly and general interest titles, government documents and reports related to environmental issues such as global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more.
