Resources and training
We provide a range of resources to support your research, including literature searching and reference management, in addition to training and development in research management and skills.
Literature searching
Below is a collection of useful resources to help you with literature searching.
Every discipline at Edge Hill has a subject resources page designed to provide quick access to relevant databases and journal collections. You can find some specialist and multidisciplinary databases under the Additional Resources tab. Please note, depending on your field of research, you may find it useful to look at several subject resources pages.
Gale Power Search is a platform that searches across numerous Gale databases. It gives access to academic journal articles, eBooks, newspaper articles and other materials. The databases include
- Gale Academic OneFile
- Gale General OneFile
- Gale OneFile: News
- Gale eBooks
- Gale Literature: Scribner Writer Series
- Gale Literature: Twayne’s Author Series
Scopus is the world’s largest abstract and citation database, containing thousands of journals from a range of publishers. It is excellent for literature reviews or for finding out what has been published in your area because it can locate high quality journal articles, book chapters and conference papers for any subject.
Sage Datasets is a collection of US and international datasets sourced from governmental, commercial and private organisations. It allows you to search and browse billions of datasets and also create customised exportable charts and tables.
SAGE Research Methods is a database which supports research at all levels by providing material to guide users through each step of the research process, from writing your research question and choosing a method, to analysing data, writing up and publishing the findings. Resources include a methods map, books, reference works, journal articles, podcasts and instructional videos from world-leading academics.
Statista is a comprehensive statistics platform offering access to millions of datasets. Find studies and reports, forecasts and surveys from thousands of industries that you can download in a range of formats. There are also video tutorials and a quick user guide to help you make the most of Statista.
Google Scholar is a freely available online search tool designed to search scholarly literature across all subjects. You can only access the full-text results on Google Scholar if Edge Hill has paid a subscription for the item. To ensure that you receive a link next to items Edge Hill subscribes to, you need to save the university name in Google Scholar settings:
- Select Settings
- Select Library links
- Type Edge Hill University Library into the search box and select/tick all options shown.
You can also link your Google Scholar account to your reference manager account. In the Settings menu, there is an option for Bibliography manager – use this to send Google Scholar references directly to your RefWorks or EndNote account.
Overton is the world’s largest collection of policy documents, parliamentary transcripts, government guidance and think tank research. It collects data globally from 188+ countries and territories and in many different languages. In addition, Overton can show you where your research has been cited in policy worldwide.
You can find specialist databases for your disciplinary area on the Subject Resources pages.
CREDO Reference is a general knowledge database and a great place to begin exploring your research topic. It has thousands of introductory level reference titles, millions of articles, and lots of images, charts, maps and more covering a wide variety of subjects.
Oxford Reference is an online reference database, covering a wide range of subject areas. It provides access to millions of digitised materials from across Oxford University Press’s Dictionaries, Companions and Encyclopaedias.
What is an open access browser extension?
A browser extension is a small piece of software that adds features to your web browser or to programmes you use in your browser. You can download them from the Chrome Web Store, Microsoft Store and many extensions are also available for Firefox.
What are the advantages of using a browser extension?
Some browser extensions focus on open access links to journal articles and some can be linked to Edge Hill’s subscriptions. Either way, using a browser extension can make it easier to find academic journal articles for your research.
Browser extensions:
LibKey Nomad is a browser extension for Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox that provides staff and students with access to millions of scholarly articles. LibKey Nomad automatically provides instant links to articles from journals the library subscribes to and if Edge Hill doesn’t have access to them, it will search for open access versions.
After installation, LibKey Nomad prompts you to select your institution. Simply select Edge Hill and LibKey Nomad will then notify you of available articles wherever you browse. To download the LibKey Nomad browser extension, click on the link below and select your preferred browser.
Google Scholar is Google’s search engine for finding academic literature. It has advantages and disadvantages over more conventional academic search tools, such as Discover More or Academic Search Premier. Read the UniSkills Focus On: Google Scholar blog to learn more.
Google has developed a useful browser extension called the Scholar Button, which can help you find a citation to, or the full text of, a journal article as you search the internet. Read more about the Scholar Button on the Google Scholar blog.
When you find a journal article, Open Access Helper will search for an open access link. If there isn’t an open access version of the article available, Open Access Helper will search Edge Hill’s subscriptions and enable access to the article if it is in our collection.
If you find a journal article but are unable to access it, Unpaywall will provide an open access link if one exists. In total Unpaywall contains links to over 50,000,000 articles from over 50,000 publishers and research archives. Unpaywall also has links to pre-prints on pre-print servers, such as arXiv. These are early versions of research articles before they have been peer reviewed so they allow you to access the latest, cutting-edge research.
EndNote Click is a free browser plugin that finds the best available PDF of an academic article while you browse. Behind the scenes, EndNote Click searches open databases and (where possible) Edge Hill’s subscriptions in order to find the best version of the paper for you. When you do your literature search on academic websites, EndNote Click will try to find the full-text PDF version for you. To access the full-text PDF, just click on the EndNote Click button in the bottom left corner of your screen.
You can also search the app store of the browser that you are using to download these and other extensions. If you need any further help or support contact the Academic Engagement team to book an individual appointment. UniSkills have lots of information and video tutorials on their webpages.
You Want It, We Get It: You can request publications that are not held in the Edge Hill library collections by using the You Want It, We Get It service. Search for your item in Discover More. Expand your search to items not held in the Edge Hill library using the Libraries Worldwide option. Then select the item you need and click on the You Want It, We Get It button within the item.
SCONUL access: As a researcher, it can be useful to access other academic libraries. The SCONUL access scheme allows researchers to visit other university libraries and use their books and journals. To join the scheme, complete this SCONUL form. When your application is approved, take your Edge Hill library card and email address to the university library you would like to use.
A systematic review is a rigorous and standardised approach to reviewing and analysing literature. Systematic reviews are designed to minimise bias and maximise the validity and reliability of the findings. They are widely used in healthcare, social sciences, education, and other fields to inform policy and practice, and are considered the gold standard for evidence-based decision-making. Find out more about conducting systematic reviews.
Creative Commons and copyright
Use resources responsibly. Familiarise yourself with Creative Commons licences and copyright.
Theses
ProQuest Dissertations and Theses: UK and Ireland is a comprehensive listing of theses with abstracts accepted for higher degrees by universities in Great Britain and Ireland since 1716. It provides links advising how to obtain the full text of the theses.
There are some free to use sites for searching for theses from outside the UK and Ireland, but these do not always provide full-text information:
- Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)
- Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD)
Reference management
Edge Hill subscribes to two reference management tools, RefWorks and EndNote.
You can use the Edge Hill Harvard referencing guidelines or the Uniskills referencing pages for suggestions on formatting references. Both RefWorks and EndNote contain many citation styles you can use in your papers.
RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic management tool that allows you to create and share a database of references and link them to articles. References can then be added manually or imported from electronic journal collections and Google Scholar. You can easily produce formatted bibliographies in the referencing style of your choice, including Harvard, APA and MHRA.
For help with setting up your account, importing references and full text, please see the general guidance linked below.
When you log in to RefWorks for the first time, you need to create an account. Make sure you use your Edge Hill University email address to get access to the institutional version. If you have references in a previous RefWorks account, then you can copy them across as part of the account creation process.
EndNote 25 is a sophisticated reference management tool designed to be used for research projects.
- To download EndNote 25 on campus, search for EndNote in the Software Center.
- EndNote 25 is also available on all PCs in the Catalyst building, including The Loft.
- For personal machines, staff and students can obtain a licence key from eShare.
It is important to make sure you read and understand the licence and acceptable use policy before downloading and using EndNote.
Training
We contribute to the Graduate School’s Researcher Development Programme and offer regular Staff Development events which provide an opportunity to refresh your skills or learn about a new resource. In addition, we provide individual assistance to staff engaged in research and research students (including PGCert in Research, MRes and PhD).