Popular research tools

Students using ipad to access research tools online

There are a range of pathways that you can use to find the information you need.

You may find one research tool easier to use than others, and often you'll find that taking multiple pathways into the literature gives you the best results. 


Get help with

  • Databases

    For greater precision and comprehensiveness in your search, databases are a great option. Databases are online collections of resources that you can search to find information. They may focus on a particular subject area or cover a range of subject areas.

    Subject-specific databases may offer additional search options tailored for that particular subject area and can provide you with better search results. For example, PubMed, one of the major databases in medicine, lets you search using MeSH terms in addition to the standard keyword search option.

    View a list of databases by title and subject.

  • Library Search

  • Google Scholar

    Access Google Scholar both on and off campus! Full Text @ Uni Adelaide links will appear to the right of your search results when a document can be accessed via University of Adelaide library subscriptions.

    Having problems with the above link? Simply set up your Google Scholar preferences as follows:

    1. Go to Google Scholar
    2. Click on Settings (either from the top of the Scholar home page, or from the drop-down on the right hand side of the results page).
    3. Choose Library Links.
    4. Type ‘University of Adelaide’ into the search box.
    5. Tick next to “The University of Adelaide – Full Text @ Uni Adelaide”
    6. Click Save.

    *Please use the links on the right of your search results for access instead of clicking on the article title.

    *Note that not all articles found through Google Scholar will be available at University of Adelaide Library. For more comprehensive coverage of library resources you should use Library Search .

  • How Do I guides

    How Do I guides provide a great starting point when you are looking for information. Created by the library's liaison librarians, these guides bring together the most useful resources and search techniques. Whether you are studying Anthropology or Mechanical Engineering, there is a How Do I guide to get you started. 

    View HOW DO I guides