Social Work

Using the databases is the most efficient way to search across collections of journal titles all at once. Each database helps you search a different body of literature and will yield results that help you form perspective on a topic. Note that Social Work content is cross disciplinary in nature. Your research will likely span across several subject areas. Think about the kind of content you are looking for and read database descriptions to identify relevant databases for your particular topic. 

Tutorial: How to Choose the Right Database

Sometimes starting with a multidisciplinary database is easier to start with at first. These databases will pull literature from multiple disciplines, so use words to describe your population and health issue, for example.

Best Core Databases to Start with:

Best for Specific Populations or Topics:

Depending on your topic, try these too:

NEW in Policy Commons Summer 2025! Public Health and Social Care module

Also consider databases in these subject areas:

Disability Studies
Economics
Education
Gender & Women's Studies
Government Information
Health & Wellness
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Statistics