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ART 101

Databases & Searching

Remember

  • Use your keywords (search terms)
  • Try with quotes
  • There are also options to limit to date on the left of the search results page

Reference Searching

Reference searching, also known as citation searching, is a technique that you can use to find more resources about your research topic, explore your topic further, and verify that your current research is valid and scholarly. 

Backward Reference Searching

Backward reference searching, also known as chain searching, is fairly simple. It involves examining the works cited or reference section of an article. Backward reference searching is usually done in order to discover more information about the topic being researched and to gain more information about other authors and organizations who might be experts on the topic. You can also conduct a backward author search by looking for previous articles or works by the author of the article. This can help you see the development of their research on your topic and in their field of study.

Forward Reference Searching

Forward reference searching is done by identifying works in which your original article is cited. This can help you explore your topic further, learn new information about your topic, and discover other points of view or methodologies that have been used to study your topic. 

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