A Guide to Research for CCJ 345W

What is a general database?
General databases are like a supermarket. They will cover most subjects and index a variety of publications including:  scholarly journals, newspapers, magazines.

Suggested keywords/search terms:  mass incarceration, statistics, Native American, African American, prison population, Hispanic, Latinx, non-white, white, gender, sentencing, incarceration by age, disability, and prison statistics.

What is a subject-specific database?
Subject-specific databases are like boutique stores. They specialize in a specific subject area and tend to include scholarly journals, book chapters, and dissertations. Databases in certain fields such as business, may also include trade journals.

Do they overlap with the general databases?
While there may be some overlap, subject-specific databases index the core journals for that area and provide more depth of coverage as compared to a general database.