Databases and journals
When researching for an assessment, there are several ways you can find and access peer-reviewed journal articles. We recommend searching within key social work and health databases to find the most relevant scholarly information, such as the following:
What are academic articles?
Academic articles are scholarly publications that present original research, comprehensive reviews, or critical analyses, offering some of the most current and reliable information on a given topic
Watch this video (6:04) to Understand the different types of journal articles.
Databases on the EbscoHost platform:
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SocINDEX with Full TextSocINDEX with Full Text is a comprehensive sociology research database. The database features records with subject headings from a sociological thesaurus designed by subject experts and expert lexicographers. SocINDEX with Full Text contains full text journals dating back to 1908.
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Social Work AbstractsSocial Work Abstracts provides indexing and abstracts dealing with all aspects of the social work field, including theory and practice, areas of service and social issues and problems.
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Academic Search CompleteAcademic Search Complete is a multi-disciplinary database with extensive coverage of STEM research, social sciences and humanities, anthropology, engineering, law and the sciences.
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Medline CompleteMEDLINE Complete is the largest full-text companion to the MEDLINE index, containing full text for journals.
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CINAHL CompleteCINAHL Complete is a comprehensive source of full-text for nursing & allied health journals, providing full text for more than 1,300 journals.
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APA PsycInfoPsycINFO, from the American Psychological Association (APA), a key database for psychology topics. PsycINFO contains citations and summaries of journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations, all in psychology and related disciplines, dating as far back as the 1800s.
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AgeLineAgeLine focuses exclusively on the population aged 50+ and issues of aging, including social gerontology and aging-related content from the health sciences, psychology, sociology, social work, economics, and public policy.
Databases on other platforms:
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EmbaseEmbase (The Excerpta Medica database) produced by Elsevier, is a biomedical and pharmaceutical database indexing international journals in the following fields: drug research, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, toxicology, clinical and experimental human medicine, health policy and management, public health, occupational health, environmental health, drug dependence and abuse, psychiatry, forensic medicine, and biomedical engineering/instrumentation.
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Sociology Database (ProQuest)Sociology Database covers the fields of sociology and social work including social policy, social care, social services, anthropology, gender studies gerontology, psychology and population studies.
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Health Collection (Informit)INFORMIT database, Health Collection, is useful in particular for Australian focused health content. Including research articles, reports and case studies of practical support. Subject areas included ageing and age care, child health and breastfeeding, indigenous health issues, mental health and rehabilitation.
Tip
Some databases, like Medline Complete, exclusively search peer-reviewed journals, while others offer a filter to refine your search results to peer-reviewed articles only. Look for the 'peer reviewed' or 'academic journals' filter after conducting your search.
Recommended journals
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Australian Journal of Social IssuesThis journal explores a range of significant social and policy issues and related debates. This refereed journal is published quarterly by the Australian Council of Social Service and the Australian Social Policy Association.
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Australian Social WorkThis journal includes original research and theoretical commentary on a range of social work themes. This peer reviewed journal by the Australian Association of Social Workers is published quarterly.
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British Journal of Social WorkIt covers all aspects of social work practice, features articles on original research, and examines social work principles and theories. Journal of the British Association of Social Workers, this is a leading academic social work journal in the UK.
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Child and Family Social WorkUse this resource to locate articles on research, theory, policy and practice in the field of social work with children and their families. International peer-reviewed journal focusing on children and families.
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Social work education: a journal for education and training in local authority, probation and allied personal social servicesFeatures articles of a critical and reflective nature, and is concerned with the theory and practice of social work practice and education. English journal focusing on professional education for social workers.
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Sociological Research OnlineFind sociological analysis and research on a wide range of public issues and private concerns, which is highly relevant to understanding contemporary social issues. English online journal, publishing fully peer-reviewed content.
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News sources
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Newsbank Access AustraliaProvides access to over 100 international and Australian newspapers. Less comprehensive than Factiva, but easier to search.
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FactivaProvides access to more than 8,000 Australian and international newspapers, news sources and newspaper pictures/photos. Internet Explorer is the recommended browser for this database.
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Newspaper Source PlusUse this resource to access content from U.S. and international newspapers, as well as television & radio news transcripts. Selected full text for more than 260 U.S. newspapers is available, as is cover to cover full text for 28 U.S. and international newspapers.
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TVNewsAustralian television news, current affairs and selected documentaries from the free-to-air networks.