I. Primary Literature (single studies):

When searching library databases, "Most research [found] is based upon primary data analysis in which authors of the articles collect, as well as analyze, the data."

"Articles based on primary data analysis may have an important influence for further research.Any lasting impact of an article based upon primary data analysis may be estimated by citations of its subsequent empirical articles and in reviews of the literature. (Church, 2001, p. 1-2).

[Source: Church, R. M. (2001). The Effective Use of Secondary Data. Learning and Motivation 33).]

One library database which purports to assess the impact of primary studies is ISI Web of Knowledge.

How many times has Robert N. Butler's seminal article on Life Review and Reminiscence in 1963 been cited? (This number is conservative because ISI only indexes and abstracts
a sampling of social work literature.)

Typical results of a literature search in the databases below will most often be primary studies.

AGELINE
Access via web:  CSA Illumina or AARP Website (free)
1978-    (Updated monthly)
Guide to searching AGELINE using CSA Illumina.
Indexes and abstracts books, journals, research reports, dissertations, consumer guides, book chapters, and educational videos in the field of aging and social gerontology.  Produced by the American Association of Retired Persons. Compatible with RefWorks.

CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
Access via web: EBSCO
1982- (Updated monthly)
Guide to searching CINAHL. Quick guide to searching CINAHL.
An index to U.S. nursing journals, including selected primary journals in social service and healthcare. There are more than 18,000 records with full text now included with more than 1600 journals regularly indexed. Compatible with RefWorks. 

ERIC
Access via web: CSA Illumina
1966-    (Updated monthly)
Online Thesaurus
Consists of two files: Resources in Education covers unpublished documents like conference
papers, reports, theses, curricula, project reports, etc. and Current Index to Journals in
Education covers over 1,000 journals and is the most comprehensive database in the field of education.  (Unpublished materials, i.e. Accession Numbers starting with EDs, are available
on microfiche in the Graduate Library.) Compatible with RefWorks.

Family & Society Studies Worldwide   
Access via web:  EBSCO
1970-   (Updated monthly)
"Family & Society Studies Worldwide covers popular issues as well as meeting the requirements of professionals in all fields of social work, social science and family practice. The quality and quantity of literature cited have been increased, and the scope is international including new areas of research and types of publications." Compatible with RefWorks. 

MEDLINE or UM-MEDSEARCH
Access via web:  UM-MEDSEARCH
1950-    (Updated biweekly)
Tutorial to UM-MEDSEARCH.  MEDSEARCH FAQ. Information on Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). National Library of Medicine's comprehensive database to journal citations in the biomedical sciences.  Includes citations and abstracts to the world's journal literature covering biomedicine, including research, clinical practice, administration, policy issues, and health care services. Some full text articles available. This database is limited to 50 simultaneous connections. Compatible with RefWorks. 

PsycINFO
Access via web:  http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&profile=ehost&defaultdb=psyh
1887-    (Updated monthly)
Guide to searching PsycINFO. Covers scholarly journal articles, book chapters, books, and dissertations in psychology and related disciplines. Compatible with RefWorks. 

Social Services Abstracts
Access via web: CSA Illumina
1980-  (Updated monthly)
Guide to searching CSA Illumina.
An index of social services literature, including social welfare, policy and community development. Abstracts cover journal articles, dissertations and book reviews. While this database indexes more journals than Social Work Abstracts, many of the journals are not available on this campus. Compatible with RefWorks.

Social Work Abstracts
Access via web: EBSCO
1977-
Social Work Abstracts is produced by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and offers journal citations on such topics as homelessness, AIDS, child & family welfare, aging, substance abuse, legislation, community organization and more. Covers more than 450 journals in the areas of the social work profession, theory and practice, areas of service, social issues and social problems. Social Work Abstracts is the most appropriate index for the finding citations to journals that are available on this campus. Users can simultaneously search Social Work Abstracts with other databases offered through EBSCO. Compatible with RefWorks.

Sociological Abstracts
Access via web: CSA Illumina
1952-    (Updated monthly)
Guide to searching CSA Illumina.
Contains over 680,000 citations and abstracts for sociological literature.  Indexes and abstracts journal articles concerning all aspects of sociology published in Sociological Abstracts, and includes coverage of core social work journals. Compatible with RefWorks.

= University of Michigan Licensed Database -- Accessible from campus workstations and from remote locations to valid U-M community members with signon or with valid IP address.