What is a Database?

Research databases are an organized collection of resources, such as periodicals, peer-reviewed articles, newspapers, eBooks, or media, available to users online. They are a powerful tool providing students the ability to craft, modify, and limit search results to find credible information.

Archer Library, as a member of OhioLINK, provides students with access to database collections from vendors such as EBSCO, JSTOR, and Gale. Off campus usage requires authentication with your AU credentials.

Gale in Context • Opposing Viewpoint

Multidisciplinary research starter database.

• Comprehensive coverage of a wide range of topics; includes over 20,000 viewpoints, approximately 19,000 articles, interactive maps, and infographics.
   
• Explore all sides of an issue. Content includes evidence-based viewpoints and curated information covering frequently studied and discussed issues.
   
• Viewpoints cover issues from many perspectives, beyond pro and con. Article commentaries provide supported context within viewpoints and feature opinion pieces from published sources.
   
• Topic Finder takes the titles, subjects, and approximately the first 100 words from a subset of your top results and feeds them into an algorithm. Keywords shown in the graphics are those found most often in the text with your search term.