database-comparison-guide
Installation
SKILL.md
Database Comparison Guide
A comprehensive reference for choosing and querying the right academic database for your research domain, including coverage details, advanced operators, and cross-database strategies.
Overview of Major Academic Databases
| Database | Coverage | Disciplines | Access Model | Unique Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web of Science | 1900-present, 21,000+ journals | Multidisciplinary | Subscription | Citation indexing, Journal Impact Factor |
| Scopus | 1970-present, 27,000+ journals | Multidisciplinary | Subscription | Largest abstract/citation DB, CiteScore |
| PubMed | 1946-present, 35M+ records | Biomedical, life sciences | Free | MeSH controlled vocabulary, clinical filters |
| IEEE Xplore | 1872-present, 6M+ docs | Engineering, CS | Subscription | Conference proceedings, standards |
| Google Scholar | Broad, undisclosed | All fields | Free | Widest coverage, full-text indexing |
| JSTOR | Historical archives | Humanities, social sciences | Subscription | Historical journal runs, primary sources |
| arXiv | 1991-present, 2.4M+ papers | Physics, CS, Math, Bio | Free | Preprints, no peer-review delay |
| SSRN | 1994-present | Social sciences, law | Free | Working papers, early-stage research |