Physical Science

• Primo, the Library's discovery tool, searches most of the Library's databases at once. You can access it from the Library's home page.
  • advantages:
    • it covers a very broad scope of literature
    • sometimes it is easier to search using Primo's search interface compared to an individual database's search interface
    • some article records provide sources cited by and sources cited information
  • disadvantages:
    • more difficult to fine tune searches as different databases searched by Primo have different indexing systems
    • has fewer refining, limiting, options

• Individual databases - you can access them from the SUNY Broome Library's database lists.
  • advantages:
    • easier to fine tune searches as each database has its own indexing system
    • they usually have more options to refine, and limit, searches
      • including options more specific to the discipline
    • sometimes it is easier to search using a single database's search interface compared to Primo's search interface
    • some databases provide sources cited by and sources cited information
  • disadvantages:
    • covers smaller areas of literature compared to Primo
    • sometimes the search interface may be more difficult to use compared to Primo

consider:

• research topics may be interdisciplinary
• does the database include "in press" results for the most current research and emerging science

and to also:

• search more than one database