Articles, essays, book chapters, conference proceedings, etc., can be found in databases subscribed to by Columbia University Libraries (CUL). Barnard affiliates can access all the CUL resources, which includes over 1600 databases.
Google Scholar can be a helpful resource and powerful tool in locating research papers. However, it should not be the only resource consulted. Google Scholar uses artificial intelligence and proprietary algorithms to search through vast amounts of text in nearly every subject discipline. Keep in mind that other resources, such as those found in Barnard Libguides, may be more targeted and curated for researching within a particular field.
Use these tools to see who has cited a seminal paper on your topic.
You can trace a research path through time to see how it evolves.
1. Find specific terms for each aspect of your research
2. Combine them for more precise results
3. Explore and use limits
PsycINFO -- Use the "APA Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms"
Limits include (but are not limited to):
MEDLINE -- Use "MeSH 2019" (MeSH stands for "Medical Subject Headings")
Limits include (but are not limited to):
Preprints are a good way of finding very current research on a topic. Authors deposit them in preprint servers in order to share them with each other before a journal has published the content.
Keep in mind that this material may not have completed the peer-review process. If you're unsure about how to evaluate these, consult your professor or librarian.
Review articles sum up the current state of research on a particular topic.