To find journal articles on a particular topic, use one or more of the Databases available on the FLITE Web site. These databases provide access to thousands of journal titles. Many databases provide full text (content of the articles is found directly within the database), but some provide only citations (descriptions of where the article originally appeared in print) or abstracts (citations with a summary attached.)
General Databases
Academic OneFile
A very large full-text database with millions of articles covering a multitude of subjects, Academic OneFile indexes journals, magazines, and newspapers. A variety of Criminal Justice journals are included in Academic OneFile, in addition to other journals that touch on issues affecting your field. Use this database as you explore different topics and begin to narrow your focus. A general database like this one is also useful if you are unfamiliar with database searching, as you are apt to receive a broader selection of material as you begin to research. You can refine your searches by using more selective databases once you've focused your topic.
Wilson Select Plus
This completely full-text database includes articles from a wide range of subject fields including science, humanities, education and business. Coverage is from 1994 to the present. Again, use this general database as you begin work with your topic
Criminal Justice Databases
Criminal Justice Periodicals Index
This database provides selective full-text coverage to journals in the fields of law enforcement, corrections administration, social work, drug rehabilitation, criminal and family law, industrial security, and other criminal justice fields. Citations extend back to 1981.
Sage Criminology Full-Text and Criminal Justice Abstracts
Sage Criminology shares a search interface with Criminal Justice abstracts, but allows you to retrieve all articles in full text. This database has very deep backfiles, so you research your topic over a longer time span, providing you with a broader scope.
With citations dating back to 1968, Criminal Justice Abstracts is prepared in cooperation with the Criminal Justice Collection of Rutgers University Library. Indexing journal articles, books, and government reports, Criminal Justice Abstracts covers such topics as crime trends, crime prevention and deterrence, juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice, police courts, and sentencing.
Getting the Article
If the article is available in full text in your database, you can read it at once and then print it, save it to a thumb drive, or email it to yourself so you can refer to it further. If the article is available only as a citation or abstract, you'll need to see if the article is available in another Database or in print within the library in the particular journal where each article was published. Many databases now have a link called Find It, which helps you find the material. If the full text of the article is available, you will be able to find the article by clicking on the Go button.
Sometimes the Find It button will provide a link to the Online Catalog. This indicates that the journal is found in FLITE's print collection. You'll need to come to the Second Floor of the library to get the article. We'll help!
Interlibrary Loan
If the only message you see is "Request document via
Interlibrary Loan", you will need to order the article.
Interlibrary Loan is a service provided by FLITE to request articles and books that FLITE does not own. Most often this service is used when searching for articles in FLITE databases, and you are directed through the "Find It" button to request the item. The first time you use this service, you will need to register with ILLiad, our Inter-Library Loan service. Click on the words "First Time Users" to register. You will complete a form, creating a username and password which will be used for future requests. Article requests are emailed to you in 5-10 business days (ferris email preferred), and books will be mailed to you if you are an off-campus student. On-campus students may pick up books at the Checkout Desk.
To look up whether FLITE owns a particular journal, use the Find a Periodical database to search for the journal title. Remember to use the journal title not the article title for your search.
Research Guide: Criminal Justice
A web-based Subject Reference Guide for Criminal Justice is available to help you research. To find print reference sources that are useful for Criminal Justice, use this Research Guide.
Off Campus Access
FLITE Distance Education Library Services
One of our missions at FLITE is to offer all off-campus students access to the high-quality research materials available through the library. FLITE's subscription databases are available to all current Ferris students, faculty, and staff, including off-campus students. Our newly-designed Distance Education web site should help you with any questions you may have about reaching FLITE from wherever you are. If you experience problems logging on, please call (231) 591-2669 or (800) 4-FERRIS (ext. 2669).
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of presenting another's work or ideas
as your own. Plagiarism is often unintentional, but it occurs whenever you use someone else's ideas
or words without giving them credit. It can be obvious - purchasing a term paper or turning
in a project done by someone else. It can be putting other's ideas into your own words. It can be cutting and pasting text from a web site. A simple rule:
Do not copy text from Web pages or other sources without identifying and giving credit to the original author.
Here are some ways to avoid plagiarism, taken from PILOT, the FLITE Information Literacy Online Tutorial.
To avoid Plagiarism:
For more information about Plagiarism, please explore the Plagiarism and Citations guide developed by FLITE.
Citing Sources
Whenever you are quoting or using information from a source, you must credit or cite that source. Failure to do so is plagiarism which can lead to expulsion from the University.
To learn more about citations, check out this FLITE Citations page.
If you have any questions about what we went over during the library visit, Email Kristy Motz.
Don't forget, you are welcome to come to the Oval Information Desk and ask for help at any time. You can also call us 231-591-3602 or chat with us.
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Last Update: January 21, 2008