When should I search FoxHunt vs. searching library databases?

Answer

Not all information found in library databases can be found in FoxHunt, so it is recommended that you search both FoxHunt and library databases though there are instances where one option is better than the other.

 

Use FoxHunt as a starting point for research:

  1. When looking for a specific source or sources by an author.
  2. When researching topics that are interdisciplinary ex: environmentally friendly fashion, criminal justice topics (impacts on victims vs. offenders vs. society vs. cost).
  3. To get a sense of how many sources are out there about a topic (how much has been written already and what possible sources there are).

 

Use Library Databases for research:

  1. When narrowing down a topic that is too broad, the resources on the Reference Materials page are a starting place for this process.
  2. Sometimes FoxHunt can assist with this, but you can obtain search terms for FoxHunt if you consult reference works first.
  3. When focusing on one particular discipline for your topic so that you are only seeing sources selected by that discipline and you don’t need to comb through your FoxHunt Results to find them.
  4. When in need of more advanced limits like methodology, journal article type, etc., beyond peer reviewed or not peer reviewed and more advanced vocabulary. PsycInfo and PubMed are examples of databases that offer this information.
  5. When looking for company, consumer, and industry information, while sometimes this information can be found in FoxHunt, it is not all of it and databases that offer this information are better search directly.

 

If you need further help, contact a librarian.

  • Last Updated Jul 19, 2023
  • Views 24
  • Answered By Elizabeth Clarke

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