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Humanities - Philosophy

Find journal articles, newspaper articles, book reviews etc.

Note: the search above won't find every article, for a more comprehensive search see the information below on databases.

To find relevant and good quality information for your assignments, projects and dissertations, searching databases is the most effective method.  Databases contain quality-assessed journal or newspaper articles on particular topics.  The Library offers free access to a range of databases though you may need your GUID and associated password to use some of them, especially if you are off campus.  For help with searching databases effectively see Searching electronic resources.

Follow the full details of this resource link on the catalogue entry to find out which databases are most relevant to your research area.   

Internet resources:

he internet is full of resources which may be of value for your research.  You should, however, take time to ensure the information you have found is from a reliable source.  The Internet for Philosophy (a free of charge, teach yourself tutorial) will help you develop your internet information skills.

Once you have your research topic, you can start your search for information.  The information sources highlighted in Key Resources should be your first step.  You may also find the Information Skills section of use.  This provides helpful tips on doing a literature review, how to search databases and catalogues and managing your references.

If you would like some more advice on searching for information, please do email me at clare.paterson@glasgow.ac.uk.

Some of the resources that may be of use to your research may not be available directly from the Library.  You can order books, journals and theses which we do not hold; see the Need something that we don’t have? pages.

What is referencing?

Referencing is the acknowledgement of sources you have read and used while writing your own essay, dissertation, article or thesis.
Referencing includes citing the sources you are referring to and quoting directly from throughout your work, and producing a bibliography of the sources you have read as part of your research. 

How do I cite references?

Philosophy uses the Harvard system of referencing for footnotes and bibliographies.

There is further guidance and practical exercises to help you develop your writing skills (including referencing) in the Philosophy Advancing Academic Writing moodle.  You may also find it useful to refer to the guidance on writing essays and answering exam questions on Philosophy’s Study Resources pages.

How do I keep track of references?

If you keep track of the sources you consult as you go through your research, you will find building your bibliography and citing your sources much easier as you write-up.  The University offers access to reference management software which can help you do this. 

Why should I reference?

You must always acknowledge the sources you have consulted and are using in your own work.  Citing your sources:

  • gives credit to concepts and ideas from other authors
  • provides evidence of the extent of your reading
  • allows readers to follow up your sources easily
  • helps you avoid plagiarism

Use of sources without acknowledgement is called plagiarism, which is considered by the University an act of fraudulence and an offence against University discipline.  The University’s statement on plagiarism is published in the University Calendar.

 College Support Team Librarian for Philosophy

Clare PatersonClare Paterson
clare.paterson@glasgow.ac.uk‌
0141-330-6762
Room 912 (Level 9)

Please do contact me for help with finding information. I split my time between the Library and Archive Services, but I am generally in my Library office on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

For general library enquires, you can use the Library Enquiry Service: Level 2, Main Library, email: library@lib.gla.ac.uk

You can also get more information on Library services through the Information for pages.