25 Peer-Reviewed and Scholarly Journal Articles Databases

Your professor has always emphasized the importance of using peer-reviewed or scholarly sources. However, it can be challenging and frustrating to find good databases that contain these types of articles. Students often end up with sources that their instructor rejects. While newspaper articles and magazines can be used, it is best to find and use peer-reviewed or scholarly journal articles. This post will discuss the definition of peer-reviewed and scholarly journal articles and why they should be used. It will also provide information on where to find government documents, reports, whitepapers, books, and peer-reviewed journal articles for research writing. Additionally, a list of 25 peer-reviewed journal databases will be provided, along with other valuable information. So, continue reading to learn more.

Table of Contents

What You’ll Get from Reading this Post on Peer-reviewed and Scholarly Journal Articles Databases:

A list of 25 databases containing thousands or millions of peer-reviewed and scholarly sources to support your research writing.
Important information highlighted in bold to quickly find what you need.
Detailed sections offering valuable information to help you transition from an ordinary academic writer to a refined one.
Sections guiding you on how to easily identify scholarly and peer-reviewed journals and journal articles.
Tips to help you avoid unreliable sources and those with questionable origins.
Assurance that you’re consistently using reliable sources.

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First Things First: What is Peer Review?

According to Editage Insights, peer review is the evaluation of an academic or scientific work by experts in a specific field.

Are Peer-reviewed Journal Articles and Scholarly Journal Articles the Same?

Sometimes they are, and sometimes they are not. However, this answer may not satisfy your curiosity. Scholarly journals are not always peer-reviewed, but they still serve as good sources. Nevertheless, there are many sources of scholarly journals that have undergone rigorous peer review. So, what distinguishes a scholarly journal article from a peer-reviewed one? The following sections on Peer-reviewed and Scholarly Journal Articles Databases will explain that.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

What is a Peer-reviewed Journal?

Peer-reviewed journals are also known as refereed journals. Before a refereed journal is published, it undergoes a thorough and critical review process. The review is conducted by scholars working in the same field as the author of the work. These journals are called peer-reviewed because the author’s peers perform the review. Peer-reviewed journal articles are high-quality sources that provide credibility and valuable information. They reflect solid scholarship, making it highly advisable to use peer-reviewed sources.

What is a Scholarly Article?

As mentioned earlier, peer-reviewed journal articles are considered scholarly sources. However, not all scholarly journals are peer-reviewed. Some scholarly journals go through the peer-review process, while others do not. What makes scholarly articles valuable is that they present the findings of original experimentation and research. These articles include detailed citations, such as footnotes, endnotes, or bibliographies. Scholarly articles are written by experts and primarily target other experts in a specific discipline. While not all scholarly articles go through peer review, they are approved by an editorial board before publication. Ultimately, both journal articles and scholarly articles are evaluated by experts and serve as credible sources to support arguments in research.

Why is Peer Review Important?

Peer review is often a rigorous process. However, it ensures that only the highest-quality material gets published. Understanding how the process works helps to appreciate its importance.

When an author submits an article to a journal, it is reviewed by a select group of experts chosen by the editor. These reviewers are highly knowledgeable and respected in the author’s field. They thoroughly evaluate the work and provide detailed feedback and a decision aligned with the quality of the work.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

Reviewers’ Feedback

When reviewers assess an article, they have three possible decisions: rejection, acceptance with substantial revisions, or acceptance without revisions. It is rare for an article to be accepted without any revisions. Reviewers may also suggest that the author include additional relevant studies that they may have overlooked. They may point out errors in the work and offer suggestions for addressing them. The journal editor also reviews the article and may provide comments.

Peer review serves not only to evaluate the quality of research but also to enhance the work and contribute to the improvement of peer-reviewed and scholarly journal articles databases. This is why your professors emphasize the use of peer-reviewed or scholarly journal articles.

Limitations of Peer Review

Authors vary in terms of their training, experience, and quality, just as peer-reviewed journals differ in various ways. Lesser-known journals may struggle to find expert reviewers in their respective fields and may end up working with unfamiliar reviewers. Critics often target the credibility of the sources used, emphasizing the importance of where the material was published and who reviewed it. Therefore, it is advisable to choose reputable and respected journals.

Even prestigious journals are susceptible to human errors. A busy reviewer may give a cursory review, overlooking subtle errors. Additionally, reviewers may not thoroughly scrutinize every reference, fact, or statistic.

Bias can also influence peer reviewers. Reviewers may have a bias against studies that contradict their own research and are unlikely to accept such work. If an author suspects bias from a particular reviewer, they can request that the journal exclude that individual from reviewing their work. However, such a request may raise concerns about avoiding legitimate criticism and could lead the editor to include the biased reviewer.

Conflicts of interest can undermine the credibility of a journal. Journals dedicated to specific fields or interests may be more inclined to accept work that aligns with their agenda while rejecting other articles. These journals may even select reviewers who share their positive views. As a result, articles that could bring significant value to the scientific community may be rejected, limiting the availability of peer-reviewed and scholarly journal articles.

Despite these limitations, peer review is a valuable process that provides quality control. While it cannot guarantee error-free submissions, it significantly improves the overall standard of scholarly work.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

Recognizing Peer-Reviewed Journals

It is important to note that not all journals are peer-reviewed. An article published in a non-peer-reviewed journal is not considered a peer-reviewed source. Additionally, not all content within a peer-reviewed journal is peer-reviewed. For instance, letters to the editor, editorials, and book reviews are not subjected to the peer-review process. Therefore, it is crucial to identify peer-reviewed journals and focus on them whenever possible. Fortunately, certain databases allow you to limit your search to peer-reviewed sources.

Using specific search commands can help ensure that you obtain peer-reviewed journal articles. Some databases, such as ERIC, offer the option to narrow your search to peer-reviewed sources. However, not all databases provide this feature.

Ulrichsweb.com is a useful resource that can determine if a journal is peer-reviewed. Access to this website may require a subscription through your school. By entering the exact title of the journal, you can check if it is peer-reviewed. If the journal appears in the database, a symbol indicating its peer-reviewed status will be displayed.

If Ulrichsweb.com does not contain information about the journal you are looking for, there are alternative methods to determine if a journal is peer-reviewed. One approach is to examine the individual journal or journal article. Look for the masthead, which typically contains important details about the publication, including the editorial staff and publisher’s name. Some journals explicitly state that they publish original research and reviews, indicating their scholarly nature. Other journals may include the term “peer-reviewed” or provide evidence of the peer-review process, such as the publishing date and the label “PEER REVIEWED.”

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

If the information is not readily available on the masthead, you can check the journal’s guidelines for authors. Some journals specify how authors should submit their articles, which suggests they undergo a review process. However, this method is not foolproof.

Another effective method is to assess the characteristics of the journal article itself. Peer-reviewed articles often employ technical terminology that may be less accessible to general readers. They typically follow a specific scientific paper format, including sections like Abstract, Introduction, Review of Literature, Methodology, Findings or Results, and Conclusion. Additionally, peer-reviewed articles contain citations, endnotes, footnotes, and a properly formatted bibliography or references page. A reputable peer-reviewed journal usually has minimal advertisements, as excessive advertising can indicate bias and conflicts of interest.

If all else fails, you can visit the journal’s official website to gather information about its peer-review process. However, keep in mind that this method may not always be completely reliable, as websites can provide misleading information. When in doubt, consult your instructor for guidance on evaluating sources.

Here’s an additional indication to be aware of: Does the journal article contain endnotes, footnotes, or in-text citations? Does it include a comprehensive and accurately formatted bibliography or references page according to a specific editorial style? Also, consider whether the journal that published the article is inundated with advertisements. A peer-reviewed journal typically has minimal or no advertisements. It’s reasonable to assume that a source with excessive ads promoting certain products is likely biased. Conflict of interest makes it challenging for such a source to remain unbiased. A peer-reviewed article adheres to the appropriate format, and a peer-reviewed journal often requires multiple copies of work for review while featuring minimal advertisements.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

Another Method: Visit the Journal’s Official Website

Simply locate the official website of the journal on the internet. Go to the “about us” page and read the journal’s description. If it explicitly states that it is a peer-reviewed journal, then it is most likely a peer-reviewed publication. However, it’s important to note that this method is not foolproof. There’s a possibility of encountering unreliable information. It’s conceivable for a website to claim to be a peer-reviewed resource when it is not. If the previously described methods don’t provide clarity and you feel uncertain about a source, it’s advisable to consult your instructor.

Types of Peer Review

Peer review can take various forms. Here is a list of seven different types of peer review that you should familiarize yourself with:

1. Open Peer Review
2. Collaborative Peer Review
3. Single-blind Peer Review
4. Double-blind Peer Review
5. Post-publication Peer Review
6. Cascading or Transferable Peer Review
7. Third Party Peer Review

Now let’s briefly explore each type.

Open Peer Review

As the name suggests, this type of peer review emphasizes openness. The authors and reviewers involved in this process are aware of each other’s identities. An open review includes the submitted work along with the reviewers’ comments, and the reviewed document also includes the author’s responses. One drawback of this approach is that researchers may not be completely honest when reviewing the work of their seniors. Additionally, some reviewers may prefer not to be identified as the individuals who provided negative reviews.

However, open peer review of Peer-reviewed and Scholarly Journal Articles Databases offers several advantages. It promotes transparency, which leads to accountability and civility. It ensures that the article reaches its highest potential. Furthermore, reviewers are likely to dedicate adequate attention to their work because they know their comments may be published, and no one wants to be associated with mediocrity.

Collaborative Peer Review

At the initial stages of this review process, the journal does not disclose the identities of the authors and reviewers. However, these identities may be revealed when it’s time to publish the work. The journal provides a platform where authors and reviewers can interact and discuss how to improve the work. Usually, two or more reviewers collaborate and submit a combined report. In some cases, a reviewer or two may work directly with the writer to enhance the work. The goal is to refine the work until it is ready for publication.

The advantage of this approach is that writers often perceive reviewers as supportive rather than solely pointing out their flaws. This positive dynamic can lead to higher-quality work compared to other review methods. However, the downside of collaborative peer review is that independent evaluation may be compromised. Additionally, the collaboration between writers and reviewers may blur the distinction between writing and reviewing.

Single-blind Peer Review: Process, Advantages, and Disadvantages

In this type of peer review, the author is unaware of the identities of the reviewers, but the reviewers are aware of the author’s identity throughout the review process. The advantage of single-blind review is that it allows reviewers to provide honest criticism. Unfortunately, this approach may leave room for discrimination to persist. Reviewers could potentially discriminate against authors based on factors such as gender or nationality.

Double Blind Peer-review: An Overview of the Process

In double-blind peer review, the editor ensures that the authors are unaware of the identities of the reviewers who will be assessing their work. Similarly, the reviewers are also unaware of the authors’ identities. Both sides remain anonymous, including their names and affiliations. This type of review is commonly preferred in the humanities and social sciences fields. One significant advantage is that it helps eliminate bias, and both authors and reviewers work in an environment where they feel protected against undue criticism. However, there is still a possibility for reviewers to deduce the authors’ identities by analyzing their writing style or area of expertise.

Third-party Peer-review

In third-party peer review, independent reviewers evaluate an author’s work before it is submitted to a journal. These reviewers are typically professional editors who specialize in editing scholarly research and publications. The author receives comments and suggestions from the editor, which they can incorporate into their work. Although this approach does not guarantee acceptance, it can increase the chances of approval.

However, it is important to note that working with editors can be costly, and choosing the wrong editor may not yield the desired results. On the positive side, working with editors can be beneficial because they understand what journal editors look for in a piece of work. If a professional editor approves the work, it is likely to be accepted by a journal. Nonetheless, there are no guarantees in the publishing process.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

Post-publication Review

In post-publication review, the review process continues even after the article has been approved and published. This type of review is often supplementary to other forms of review and rarely occurs as the sole review process. One advantage of post-publication review is that it acknowledges the dynamic nature of knowledge and the ongoing evolution of research. Additionally, it helps identify any errors or issues that might have been missed during the pre-publication review. However, it is important to note that corrections or discussions resulting from post-publication review are typically conducted through published discussions rather than being incorporated directly into the original work.

Transferable or Cascading Peer-review

Transferable or cascading peer review occurs when a journal cannot accept an article for various reasons, such as the article not aligning with the journal’s audience or priority at the time. In such cases, the referring journal may encourage the author to submit the work to a different journal that might be more suitable. Usually, the editor of the referring journal sends the work along with the reviewers’ comments to the new journal.

However, there is a possibility that the editor of the new journal may also decide that the work is not suitable for their audience, which can be frustrating for the author. Nevertheless, being transferred to a different journal by a referring journal can expedite the publication process. Starting anew with a different journal may take longer than when the original journal forwards the reviews to the new journal.

Where to Find Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

Now that we understand what scholarly and peer-reviewed journals are and how to identify them, let’s explore where to find these credible sources. There are numerous databases available for accessing peer-reviewed journal articles. Some well-known databases include EBSCOhost, CINAHL, PubMed/HubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, BIOSIS Previews, and The Cochrane Library, among others.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

25 Great Peer-reviewed and Scholarly Journal Articles Databases

1. EBSCOhost.com

EBSCO Industries Inc. operates multiple divisions, and one of them is EBSCOhost. For more than 70 years, EBSCOhost has collaborated with libraries worldwide, supporting research by offering high-quality content. EBSCO serves various markets, including public libraries, law, medical, corporate, and government sectors. EBSCOhost provides an online research service with 375 full-text databases, functioning as a database of databases. It offers over 90,000 audiobooks and more than 1,000,000 e-books from numerous publishers.

Content vendors supply some of the databases found on EBSCO, such as Econlit and MEDLINE. On the other hand, EBSCO compiles the remaining databases, including Academic Search, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Clinic Reference Systems, Education Abstracts, and others.

EBSCO Industries Inc. also operates EDS (EBSCO Discovery Service), which facilitates easy searching of magazines and journals. Students in medical or nursing school will find EBSCO to be a valuable resource, as it provides a wealth of high-quality journal articles, including those from the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. It is no wonder that many schools across the United States subscribe to EBSCO.

2. CINAHL

CINAHL is primarily a database focused on nursing and medicine. It offers up-to-date and high-quality literature to support research by nursing and allied health professionals. This database is accessible through EBSCOhost (mentioned earlier). Within CINAHL, there is a helpful tool called CINAHL Complete, which grants researchers and students access to evidence-based care sheets and valuable full-text journals dating back to 1937. It contains cited references for over 1,500 journals, covering various fields such as general health, medicine, nutrition, and nursing.

3. PubMed/HubMed

HubMed provides easy and quick access to the PubMed database. What sets HubMed apart is its ability to enable live searches on PubMed. By using the appropriate field codes for searching on HubMed, users obtain the same results as they would on PubMed. Sorting the results by “date” instead of “relevance” is recommended, as the former tends to yield more useful outcomes. The sorting options can be found in a dropdown menu below the search box.

HubMed is accessible to anyone with an internet connection and serves as an excellent database for those not affiliated with a library. It offers access to many high-quality, full-text, peer-reviewed journal articles free of charge. When biomedical sources are needed, PubMed/HubMed is a valuable resource.

4. Ovid MEDLINE

Ovid Medline has been supporting research since 1946. This database focuses on biomedicine and life sciences, hosting nearly 6,000 journals. Approximately 80 percent of the articles in the database are in English, while sources exist in up to 60 languages. Medline provides over 23 million recent author abstracts and bibliographic citations. What makes it even more valuable is that Ovid, the platform on which Medline operates, releases more than 4,500 e-publications weekly before they appear in print. Additionally, the database offers over 1,000 full-text Open Access journals. Whether seeking information on AIDS, cancer, bioethics, toxicology, or complementary medicine, Medline is a comprehensive and frequently updated resource.

5. BIOSIS Previews Via Ovid

BIOSIS Previews is published by Clarivate Analytics (UK) Limited and offers a wide range of material dating back to 1926. It is a valuable database for researchers in the life sciences, providing high-quality sources in fields such as zoology, ecology, botany, biomedicine, biochemistry, and biotechnology.

The database is updated weekly, with approximately 500,000 new records added each year. It contains over 5,000 journals and non-journal literature, many of which are peer-reviewed. With access to over 18 million records accumulated since 1926, BIOSIS Previews is an excellent resource for identifying emerging trends in various disciplines. It operates on the Ovid platform, similar to MEDLINE.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

6. The Cochrane Library

The Cochrane Library is a collection of databases that offer diverse and reliable sources for research in healthcare-related fields. It is owned by Cochrane.org and published by Wiley. The library includes databases such as Cochrane Clinical Answers (CCAs), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR).

CCAs provide concise answers to clinical questions based on relevant Cochrane reviews. CENTRAL contains reports on randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials, while CDSR offers comprehensive bibliographic information on sources such as authors, year of publication, and titles. Although full-text access may not be available for all sources, the systematic reviews on CDSR are peer-reviewed.

The Cochrane Library is updated regularly, and its user-friendly interface allows for easy searching by publication year and issue number. It is particularly beneficial for nursing and medical students, as well as healthcare professionals.

7. AMED: The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database

AMED is a valuable resource for researching topics related to complementary or alternative medicine. It is published by the British Library and covers areas such as palliative care, podiatry, hypnosis, rehabilitation, and acupuncture. The database provides basic bibliographic information for all records, and sources published after 1995 often include author abstracts.

Access to full-text articles may require payment. AMED offers over 600 journals, primarily scholarly sources. While the sources are not predominantly peer-reviewed, they are highly relevant to the field. Access to AMED is available through platforms like EBSCOhost or OVID.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

8. Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a widely used starting point for researchers and students when searching for quality sources. Established in 2004, it is the largest academic search engine globally, offering a vast collection of peer-reviewed articles, books, dissertations, theses, abstracts, technical reports, patents, and case laws.

As of January 2018, Google Scholar contained nearly 390 million sources, with 90 percent of the articles published in English. Some articles on Google Scholar are accessible for free, indicated by the phrase “Free Access” above the title. PDF versions of both free and paid sources are usually available for download. While Google Scholar does not vet all the journals it includes, it is recommended to prioritize sources that are widely cited.

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9. MEDLINE / MEDLARS Online

MEDLINE, also known as MEDLARS ONLINE, is a bibliographic database operated by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It provides valuable support to researchers and students in various healthcare fields, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and preclinical sciences.

Containing nearly 4,000 biomedical journals from around the world, MEDLINE offers over 9 million records, with approximately 76 percent of them including author abstracts written in English. Since June 26, 1997, content published on MEDLINE has been accessible free of charge to students and researchers.

10. JSTOR: Journal Storage

JSTOR collaborates with the global academic community to advance research and teaching. Established in 1994, it provides access to over 10 million academic journal articles, 50,000 books, and 2 million primary source documents spanning 75 disciplines. JSTOR operates in partnership with ITHAKA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving knowledge and supporting learning through digital technologies.

All sources published before 1923 in the U.S. and before 1870 elsewhere are freely available to everyone. The remaining sources are offered at affordable rates, and some allow free access. JSTOR’s materials support research and teaching in the social sciences, humanities, and sciences. With annual access plans starting as low as $20, JSTOR is an affordable option for accessing its extensive database.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

11. Informit A+ Education

Informit A+ Education is a small but valuable database that supports academic writing and teaching in the field of education. It contains over 220,000 records from approximately 165 resources, all focused on the education field. The database covers sub-fields such as early childhood education, adult education, primary education, education theory and practice, and secondary education. The sources available in Informit A+ Education are not older than 1978. It is a subscription-based database, primarily aimed at education students in Australian universities.

12. ERIC: Education Resources Information Center

ERIC, which stands for Education Resources Information Center, offers two main categories of journals. The first category, comprehensively indexed journals, consists of roughly 80 percent of journals with education-related research. ERIC provides bibliographic details for each of these articles. The second category, selectively indexed journals, includes 50-79 percent of journals focusing on education. ERIC manually selects journal articles based on specific criteria outlined in its selection policy.

The search function in ERIC allows users to limit their inquiries to full-text articles and peer-reviewed sources. It is an excellent resource for accessing government documents, technical reports, whitepapers, and other non-journal materials related to education.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

13. ProQuest Education Journals

ProQuest is a database designed to support researchers and academic writers in the field of education. It provides access to a wide range of top education journals, with over 1,000 full-text education-focused titles available. In addition to journals, ProQuest offers access to more than 18,000 dissertations and over 450,000 ebooks. The database boasts an extensive collection of digital pages, including historical sources dating back as far as 600 years. While it contains classic works like Plato’s “The Republic” and Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics,” the majority of the material focuses on contemporary research covering the theory and practice of education. ProQuest covers various topic areas within education, including homeschooling, primary education, secondary education, adult education, and higher education.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

14. PsycINFO

PsycINFO is a database that caters to the research needs of academics, students, and scientists in the field of psychology. Produced by the American Psychological Association, this database offers access to peer-reviewed research in digital format. Over the past 50 years, PsycINFO has established itself as a trusted resource for researchers in the behavioral and social sciences. It currently contains over 4,587,214 records. PsycINFO is available through licensed providers such as OVID Technologies, ProQuest, and EBSCO. Individuals and institutions can access this content-rich database through paid subscriptions.

15. Medscape

Medscape is an excellent source of news stories and scholarly perspectives on drugs and diseases. It is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurses, who can benefit from reading it regularly, especially before work. For those writing evidence-based nursing papers, Medscape provides a wealth of information. The website features a wide range of articles, including a piece on immunotherapies dated December 23, 2018. All authors on Medscape are subject experts, including physicians and PhDs. The articles not only make for interesting reading but also serve as credible sources for research writing. One of the best aspects of Medscape is that it offers free access. Simply sign up and gain instant access to quality articles authored by subject experts.

16. Elsevier

Elsevier is a prominent scholarly publisher and a provider of data analytics. It stands as one of the largest scholarly publishers worldwide, offering nearly 49,000 books, close to 3,000 journals, and a multitude of iconic reference works. Currently, Elsevier is offering significant discounts of 50% on book purchases. The database allows users to access journals and books based on specific subjects, although many sources may require payment or subscription access due to paywalls.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

Elsevier has established itself as a publisher of high-quality content. This is evidenced by its involvement in improving the accessibility of scientific publications in Europe through a subcontract with the European Commission’s Open Science Monitor. The European Commission aims to make scientific research freely available to all European citizens by 2020, and Elsevier’s participation in this initiative speaks to its reputation.

However, some critics have expressed concerns about Elsevier’s potential bias, citing its promotion of specific products and services such as Scopus, Mendeley, and Plum Analytics. Critics argue that these affiliations may compromise Elsevier’s neutrality in publishing material. Other concerns include rising prices for research material and perceived anti-Open Science practices. Despite these criticisms, Elsevier remains a substantial and influential database. Researchers and students can make their own informed decisions about utilizing its sources.

17. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a website that provides a comprehensive list of open access journals. Open access journals allow free access to research articles, making them highly accessible to users. DOAJ features high-quality, peer-reviewed, and scholarly journals. It operates on a funding model that enables both institutions and individuals to have free access to top-quality research. Every journal seeking inclusion in DOAJ must provide users with full rights to freely use their publications. Users can download, copy, read, print, distribute, or link to full-text articles available on DOAJ. As of the present, DOAJ includes 12,440 journals and has published 3,645,571 articles from 129 countries.

While it may be tempting to assume that DOAJ accepts any journal seeking acceptance, the database actively strives for reliability and quality. In the past, DOAJ has removed several thousand journals from its database due to concerns about their reliability. This commitment to quality makes DOAJ a valuable resource that students and academic writers should not overlook.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

18. Social Science Research Network (SSRN)

The Social Science Research Network (SSRN) provides papers and articles written by social science academics and researchers. While many sources on this database are freely accessible, some articles may be behind paywalls and require membership for access. Fortunately, registration for SSRN is quick and free. As of January 9, 2019, SSRN contained 839,364 research papers across 30 disciplines. These papers were contributed by 418,693 academics and researchers. Whether conducting research in the social sciences, health sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, or humanities, SSRN offers valuable resources.

19. ETHOS

ETHOS, managed by the British Library, is an appealing database for doctoral students as it houses thousands of PhD theses. During our research, ETHOS contained 500,000 doctoral theses at that time. Some theses are available for instant download, and users can limit their search to items that are immediately accessible. Additionally, users can request scanned copies of theses quickly and easily through ETHOS. Another useful feature of ETHOS is the ability to limit searches based on recency, author, or title. In our search for stem cell research, we selected the “Newest” limitation and obtained relevant results.

20. dblp Computer Science Bibliography

If you are pursuing a degree in computer science or a related field, dblp should be your go-to resource. This database provides books, theses, and journal articles to support computer science research. The majority of sources on dblp (52%) consist of conference and workshop papers, while 39% are journal articles. The remaining sources include informal publications, theses, books, and reference works. In total, dblp offers access to over 4,000,000 computer science publications authored by more than 2,000,000 individuals. Although some articles may be freely available, others may be behind paywalls. However, users have the option to limit their search to full-text articles.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

21. BioMed Central

BioMed Central offers research discoveries from peer-reviewed journals in various fields such as medicine, engineering, science, and technology. It is a valuable resource for students and researchers in clinical medicine, health, biology, and even mathematics assignments. With over 300 peer-reviewed journals, BioMed Central is an excellent database for STEM students. The best part is that there are no paywalls, providing unrestricted access to the content.

22. OpenDOAR

OpenDOAR is a remarkable database that provides freely available content without any sign-up requirements. It strictly lists journals and websites that offer full access to their content, avoiding author abstracts or bibliographic references only. OpenDOAR connects users to a vast collection of high-quality, freely accessible journal articles. It exclusively includes journals available in print, ensuring reliable sources. Overall, OpenDOAR is an exceptional resource for producing well-researched papers.

23. Public Library of Science Journals (PLOS Journals)

PLOS is a not-for-profit publisher and advocacy organization supporting research in various areas, including medicine, genetics, pathogens, tropical diseases, biology, and computational biology. PLOS stands out by hosting research from some of the world’s leading scientists, including 64 Nobel Laureates. It offers quick and free access to over 215,000 peer-reviewed articles, enabling anyone, anywhere to benefit from this valuable database.

24. Paperity

Paperity allows users to access recent discoveries without the inconvenience of paywalls. It gathers Open Access papers and journals from diverse disciplines, serving as a valuable resource for students and researchers. While some sources are in languages other than English, the majority are in English. The database currently includes 6,608 journals and 2,054,192 papers, providing a substantial collection of scholarly content.

25. CORE: Find Sources for Pretty Much all Disciplines

CORE offers millions of sources covering a wide range of disciplines. It provides access to over 66,000 million articles without any cost. Remarkably, 92 percent of the articles (roughly 60,000,000) in this database link to full-text sources on the original publisher’s website. CORE also hosts the remaining 8 percent (approximately 5,000,000 articles) directly. The database allows users to easily search for articles based on publication year, type, journal, author, and language. It is a valuable site for quality research available free of charge.

Peer-Reviewed and Scholary Journal Articles Databases

Where to Find Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, Books, Theses, Dissertations, Government Documents, and More: Final Thoughts

Having gained knowledge about scholarly and peer-reviewed academic articles, you can now select the best-quality sources from online libraries, physical libraries, and databases. There is no excuse for not accessing high-quality sources, as even obscure disciplines have abundant resources available. While some databases may require payment, we have provided numerous places where you can find peer-reviewed sources at no cost. If you need further assistance or guidance to enhance your research writing experience, feel free to reach out to us. We collaborate with researchers and academic writers who can provide valuable expertise and knowledge to help you achieve academic success.