Searching the Internet in Pursuit of the Databases with Theses and Dissertations
There are many reasons that can cause you to start looking for a dissertation or thesis. The best place to turn to in this case is the Internet. The Web is filled with various databases that offer these kinds of academic papers.
You will need to keep a few things in mind when dealing with these sources:
- Not all databases are free.
- Do not waste your time on limited databases.
- Look into “ancient” papers.
Expensive doesn’t mean the best in this particular case. You will need to focus on the resource’s popularity instead of the price. Free databases can provide you with very good theses and dissertations as well. You just need to find the ones that are reliable. You can do this by studying reviews on various student forums.
You may believe that looking for a database that specializes in your subject will be a better solution, but this can be a mistake. These sources usually offer a very limited number of works. Instead, you should focus on major resources that store theses and dissertations from numerous universities. Their in-built search engines will help you find many different papers on your subject.
Some of the best databases include dissertations that date back to the eighteenth century. You should look into them, as they may offer some great ideas. You will also benefit from studying these databases when checking for theses on similar topics. This will help you avoid unintended plagiarism.
One of the most important things you will need to consider when working with online thesis databases is the in-built search engines these websites use. They can vary greatly, and you will need to learn how the search function works in order to find exactly what you need.
As there are usually no instructions explaining how to use this service, you will need to experiment a bit. Search by name, subject, topic, or any other factor you consider relevant. If it’s possible, you should use an advanced search option that will provide you with a bigger number of results. Looking through all of them will take time, but this way, you won’t miss anything important.
Try out various key phrases when searching through these online databases. Look at your topic from different angles and rephrase it several times. You may also look for theses and dissertations that correspond with every minor topic of your own paper. Be sure to incorporate this massive piece of research into your dissertation writing schedule.