Starting your research

Connecting to full text

The full text of many journal articles can be accessed online, via databases. This means that you can download a complete article via a link to the full text or PDF version of the article.

To find articles with full text, search a relevant database using your keywords. Read more about choosing and searching relevant databases in other sections of this module.

Your database search will retrieve a list of records. Some of these records may provide the full text of articles.

Click links to PDF full text if it they are available.

What is SFX?

• other databases where full text journal articles may be available
• library catalogues where the details of print only journals can be found

If an article has no PDF or full text link, click the link.

Look for a list of databases that link to full text. Choose the link that displays the correct date range for your article and click Go.

If databases are not listed, look for library catalogues that will connect you to print only journals.

If there is a link to UNSW Library, it means that the journal is held here in print. Click this link and note down the location and the item number of the journal. You can then go to the shelf location and find your article.

Links to other library catalogues will help you find the article if UNSW Library does not hold the year or volume you require. You would then need to visit that library and use the journal there.