PHIL 3610: Phil of History & Culture (Fall 2024)

Follow these step-by-step instructions to search for peer-reviewed articles available to you through the Milne Library.

1. Navigate to the James M. Milne Library Homepage (https://libguides.oneonta.edu/home).
2. Select the "Advanced Search" Tab, then select "Milne Search" which will produce results in the Milne Library holdings, as well as databases we have access to, and open access materials from the web.
3. Use Boolean search logic to search the Library Catalog for resources on your topic. 
   • Note: Separate your search topics in different lines and use the AND OR NOT operators to combine your search terms. Please see the below box for additional information on Boolean operators.
4. Select Articles as Material Type, then select the date range that is applicable to your class assignment, and then select the "Search" button. 
5. Sign-In to the Library by selecting the yellow "Sign-in" box, to show you the entire results list available to you.
6. Once you see your results list:
   • If you only want to see peer-reviewed journals, select "Peer-Review" and then "Apply Filters" in the 'Refine your Results' menu.

Note: If you are not able to find a source you are looking for, try adding a broader search term. If you have too many results, try adding some more specific search terms. Always remember, your library is here for you, and we can help you find sources for your assignments, reach out to us and ask for help!

What is an "academic journal"?

An academic journal (also known as a scholarly journal, scientific journal, or peer-reviewed journal) is periodical publication containing articles written by experts in a specific field of study. For example, the Journal of Philosophy has peer-reviewed articles about the topic written by experts in philosophy. 

What does "peer-reviewed" mean?

Peer-reviewed is a process of which experts (peers) in a field evaluate an article on their subject of expertise before it is published to make sure that the article is accurate and credible. This is a way to ensure the academic quality and truthfulness of scholarly articles.

What is a "peer-reviewed article" or a "peer-reviewed publication"?

A peer-reviewed article has been read, evaluated, and approved by other experts in the field for publication. If you use materials from peer-reviewed publications they have been evaluated by other scholars in the field and determined to be credible and accurate. 

Boolean operators are words or symbols that are used in conjunction with words to refine searches. 

Here are six helpful ones to use: 

1. AND - narrows 
   1. Ex: ADHD and boys (this narrows down our results to only include ADHD and boys) 
2. NOT - excludes
   1. Ex: ADHD not boys (this narrows down our results to include things about ADHD excluding those that mention boys) 
3. OR - expands
   1. Ex: boys or males or guy (this expands our our search to search for multiple possible terms) 
4. * - expands 
   1. Ex: rac*  (using the asterisk in replace of an ending on a word will expand your search to include results that have any ending on the base word.)
5. " " - exact phrase
   1. Ex: "executive functioning" (this pulls up results that are stated in the item exactly as written) 
6. ( ) - confine
   1. Ex: (ADHD or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) AND (boys or guys or males)     - (this will instruct the database or search engine on what parts go together in your search phrase