Information seeking in Social sciences
Table of contents
- First, define your search terms. For accurate searches, use the concepts of your own discipline and field of study.
- Then, select suitable databases. The main types of scientific literature utilised in social sciences and philosophy are peer-reviewed articles and scholarly books (monographs, edited collections). Hence, the best places to start searching for scientific sources are article and book databases of your own field.
RESEARCH METHODS
Searching JYKDOK is the most expedient way of finding guides and handbooks on research methods. Another useful resource is the Sage Research Methods Online (SRMO). SRMO contains, for example, reference materials, videos, and research tools.
OPEN ACCESS SOURCES
In many databases, scientific journals and books are behind a paywall. However, the number of open access publications grown all the time. You can search these freely available and accessible publications from the following indexes and search engines:
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) – scientific journals and articles published in different languages and in various fields of study
- Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) – scientific books published in different languages and in various fields of study
- Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE) – a search engine for finding academic sources, such as research articles and digital collections. Majority of the materials indexed in BASE are open access
REPORTS AND STATISTICS
In addition to scientific articles and books, research in social sciences often makes use of reports and statistics compiled and published by research institutes and agencies.
Publications of Finnish institutes and agencies:
- Finnish Environment Institute
- Finnish Institute for health and welfare
- Finnish Institute of International Affairs
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
- Julkari – publication repository, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health's administrative branches
- Statistics Finland
RESEARCH DATA
In case you are not collecting your own primary data (for example, through interviews, experiments, observations, or surveys) and you have no access to unpublished datasets (for example, through collaboration with a research project), you can utilise archived or published sources in your thesis.
OSC IS HERE TO HELP YOU
The Open Science Centre (OSC) provides assistance in information seeking, data management, and reference management.
- Study independently: a guide to systematic information seeking – Library Tutorial
- Attend a course or training: more information on the Open Science education webpage
- Contact us: opetus@library.jyu.fi. If your question relates to information seeking especially in social sciences and philosophy, please mention your field / major in the email
- Book an appointment: when you are doing your Master's thesis or dissertation, you can book a personal consultation via HelpJYU platform