ENGL 100 (Larson) Onsite

Library databases give you access to credible, reliable, and peer-reviewed information. Use them to find:

1. Quality Information: All resources are vetted by experts.
2. Narrow Search Options: You can filter by subject, publication type, and date to find exactly what you need.
3. Access to Full-Text Articles: Many databases offer full access to articles that aren't free on the web."

This video provides an overview of the distinguishing characteristics of popular and scholarly sources.

This video provides a quick breakdown of a scholarly journal, and how to read one so you can extract the information you need!

Narrowing your Focus

Broad Topic: Social Media and Mental Health

• General and covers too many aspects.

• Doesn't specify a target group or specific effects.

*Tip: Choose something you're passionate about!

Focused Research Question: How does daily social media usage impact the mental health of teenagers in the United States?

• Specific group: teenagers

• Location: United States

• Specific focus: daily social media usage and its effect on mental health

*Tip: Use the 5 W's to help you narrow your focus (Who, what, where, when, why)

Key Terms

Find information on your topic in a database, you'll need to come up with key terms. 

How does daily social media usage impact the mental health of teenagers in the United States?

•  teenagers, adolescents, youth, high school
• social media, social networks, online platforms, social media channels
• United States, Western cultures, North America
• Mental health, stress, anxiety, depression

Database Searching 

Now that you have a list of key terms to describe your topic, combine them and enter them into the database or search bar to find results.

• combination of key terms will determine your results
  • Key terms: teenagers AND social media AND mental health
• use the filters on the results page to narrow results
  • source
  • date
  • subject

*Tip: Once you find a good source, make sure you email it and use the citation tool to save some time