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Contextual Studies: Articles/Databases

A guide to resources for Contextual Studies courses at Ara

Finding Journal Articles

There are three main ways to find the articles you need:

  • Search Ara Library databases for articles on your subject. (Use this method to find your own articles for an assignment).
  • Look for a particular article from a recommended reading list. (Use this method if you have a reading list with the details of an article, e.g. author, article/journal title). 
  • Use Google Scholar to find articles in Ara databases. (Use this method to find open access scholarly articles as well as articles in some Ara databases). 
    • Using Google Scholar to find articles in Ara databases [PDF] [Video] 

Guides To Using Ara Databases

  • Find an article in a database (EBSCO) [PDF] [Video]
  • Find a Standard in Standards New Zealand database [PDF]
  • How to access O'Reilly eBooks [formerly Safari eBooks] [PDF]
  • How to access Vital Source ebooks [PDF]
  • Template example for search strategies to use in databases [PDF]
  • Using Gale Academic OneFile database [PDF]
  • Using eTV [PDF]
  • Using Proquest Central database [PDF]
  • Using Joanna Briggs database [Video]
  • Using Ovid nursing database [PDF] 
  • Using Pubmed [Video]
  • Using Pubmed, CINAHL, Proquest & Ovid to find MeSH headings [PDF]
  • Using Science Direct database [PDF]
  • Using LinkedIn Learning [PDF]
  • What is a peer-reviewed article [PDF]
  • Using Google Scholar and more [PDF]
  • What are primary and secondary sources [PDF]
  • Troubleshooting access to databases [PDF]

Google Scholar

Google Scholar Search

Google Scholar is a good place to look if you can be specific about what you need.

Recommended Databases

Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

Start here for definitions of key terms and background information.

Artstor