General Academic Search Engines & Databases:
* Google Scholar: A free search engine indexing scholarly literature across many disciplines and sources, including theses, books, abstracts, and articles. It's a great starting point for most research.
* Scopus: A subscription-based abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature. Often found through university libraries. Provides detailed citation analysis tools.
* Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics): Similar to Scopus, another subscription-based citation indexing service offering extensive citation analysis features. Strong in science and social sciences.
* PubMed: A free database of biomedical literature, primarily focused on medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary science, and the preclinical life sciences.
* IEEE Xplore: A subscription-based digital library of publications from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, crucial for electrical engineering, computer science, and related fields.
* ScienceDirect: A subscription-based database offering full-text access to many scientific, technical, and medical journals. Usually accessible through university libraries.
Discipline-Specific Resources:
* arXiv (for Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, etc.): A preprint server where researchers share their work before formal peer review. Excellent for keeping up-to-date with the latest research, particularly in STEM fields.
* JSTOR: A digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources, covering a wide range of disciplines, though stronger in humanities and social sciences. Often subscription-based through universities.
* Project MUSE: Another subscription-based digital library focusing on humanities and social sciences, offering a curated selection of journals and books.
* ERIC (Education Resources Information Center): A digital library of education-related resources, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences.
* PsycINFO: A database of psychological literature, including journal articles, books, and dissertations. Usually subscription-based.
* SSRN (Social Science Research Network): A repository of social science working papers and research. Often contains early versions of articles that later appear in journals.
Other Valuable Resources:
* University Library Websites: Almost all universities offer online access to a vast array of resources, including databases, journals, and ebooks, for their students and researchers. This is arguably the most valuable resource for most academics.
* Open Access Journals: Many journals now publish openly accessible articles, eliminating the need for subscriptions. DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) is a useful directory to find them.
* ResearchGate: A social networking site for researchers, allowing them to share their work, collaborate, and connect with others in their field.
* Academia.edu: Similar to ResearchGate, a platform for sharing research and connecting with other academics.
Remember that many of these resources require subscriptions or university affiliation for full access. Always check your university library website for access to these databases. The quality and relevance of information found online also need careful evaluation. Always prioritize peer-reviewed publications and reputable sources.