The Library purchases high-quality subscription resources to support your assignments.
Use the University VPN system to access these resources any time, anywhere.
Getting Started
New students might like to take a Virtual Tour of the Library.
For the briefest of introductions, see this slide set.
For an introduction to these Subject Pages see this video.
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"Ask the librarian for research help and she will guide you to some amazing resources you would never have found on your own. These extra discoveries make the difference between an average paper and one that shines. As an added bonus, this exercise also shaves hours from your research time."
Cal Newport - Monday Master Class: The Most Important Paper Research Advice You’ve Never Heard [1].
Your Faculty Librarian - see contact details right - can't be available 24/7 but these pages offer some of the best advice and resources available. However, feel free to get in touch to make a face-to-face or virtual appointment if you think that would be helpful.
• Using Generative AI in coursework or research
(pdf file 127 kb)
A short guide on how might legitimately use generative AI such as Chat GPT in your coursework, dissertations or research.
Always start with suggested readings in your Moodle modules. Your lecturers spend time deciding which resources to recommend:
- Look for linked Perlego content (available to all business students)
- Check the Reading List tab for additional resources
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Credo Reference
Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
Explore Credo for trusted reference sources like dictionaries - a great alternative to Wikipedia!
Watch these short videos to get started:
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Google Scholar
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
What
- A variant of Google that searches for academic literature
Why
- Provides access to articles, books, conference papers and preprints
- Links to Full-text @ Portsmouth where available when settings are applied
How
- Simple or advanced searching allowing refinement by date, author etc
- A Library Guide to this resource is available
Books
Books provide an excellent overview of a topic and are a great resource when starting an assignment. Refer to any Reading Lists you may have been directed to or use the Library Catalogue to search for topics.
If we don't have a book you're interested in, we may be able to obtain it via Interlibrary Loan.
For a look at an ebook package (in this case Ebook Central) in a bit more detail, see this short video.
To find print books:
- Search the Library Catalogue (second search box on the page)
- For each book, note the floor, number and author code: FIRST FLOOR 658.00721 BRY
- Technology books can be found in many places in the Library, use the Locate a Book search tool (at the bottom of this page) with the shelfmark for the book which you can find on the catalogue.
- This web page gives information on borrowing from the Library.
To find ebooks:
- Search the Library Catalogue (second search box on the page)
- Refine your search on the left hand side using 'Electronic Books'.
- Click on the title of the ebook to load the full record, and then 'Online access' to view.
More about using the Library Catalogue
Advanced users may wish to look at some of these scholarly ebook collections:
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Ebook Central
Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
Access around 200,000 ebooks across all subject areas.
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Oxford Handbooks Online
Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
Each Oxford Handbook offers an authoritative and state-of-the-art survey of current thinking and research. Specially commissioned essays from leading international figures in the discipline give critical examination of the progress and direction of debates, providing researchers and students with compelling new perspectives.
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Routledge Handbooks Online
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
Over 250 unlimited access in-depth guides to current and classic research across a range of subject areas. If you can't access something via this site, put the book title into our general Portsmouth catalogue as we have some titles via Ebook Central instead.
Journals and Articles
Finding, reading and referencing relevant journal articles will get you the highest marks:
Check out this video on how to find journal titles.
Check out this introductory video on finding journal articles.
If we don't have an item you're interested in, we may be able to obtain it via Interlibrary Loan or watch this video which explains how.
Scholarly or academic journals contain lots of individual articles on specific topics, written by different authors.
They are highly regarded as a source of academic information because they include expert opinions, research findings and references to follow up.
They are written by specialised professionals and academics (such as your lecturers).
The best quality journal articles are peer-reviewed which means they have been reviewed by an expert before publication.
Which are the best journals?
Peer-reviewed journal articles are the best place to start.
Advanced users may wish to find out which journals are the highest ranked in a subject area:
- cABS Academic Journal Guide (see Searching specific ABS journals below for more information)
- ABDC Journal Quality List
- FT Research Rank - 50 journals
- Scopus - click on sources and choose your subject area
- Journal Citation Reports
For general searches, use the EBSCO Discovery Service:
- Watch my Using the EBSCO Discovery Service video (7 mins)
- Think about your keywords, where you want to search and how you will filter your results
- The Peer-Reviewed Articles option returns the most academic content
- Here is some additional guidance for EBSCO login screens
Sometimes Discovery turns up too many results that are not business-related!
For specific business searches use:
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Business Source Complete fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
Academic peer-reviewed journal articles, professional publications and more across all business topics.
Advanced options in Business Source Complete video
Sometimes you might want to search in a recommended journal rather than search across all publications for articles on a topic.
Your lecturers will recommend journals you can use and it's always a good idea to reference some articles from these in your assignments.
You can search eJournals to find out which journals we subscribe to and to search titles individually.
Below are some separate journal subscriptions you may wish to explore:
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Computers and Security
Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
This journal provides a unique blend of leading-edge research and sound practical management advice. It is aimed at the professional involved with computer security, audit, control and data integrity in all sectors - industry, commerce and academia.
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Computerworld
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
This is a trade journal aimed at keeping major users and buyers of computer products up to date on all IT developments.
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Electronic Commerce Research and Applications
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
This academic journal looks in-depth at developing theories and applications of e-commerce and its relationship with areas such as finance, law, marketing, and supply chain management.
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Industrial Management and Data Systems (IMDS)
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
This contains peer-reviewed articles and reports on all aspects of new technology and data systems that will help managers develop their products and processes.
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Information and Management
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
This journal is aimed at managers, professionals, database administrators and senior executives of organisations who design, implement and manage information systems applications.
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International Journal of Information Management
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
Peer-reviewed articles covering information management related developments across computer science, economics, social psychology, management and public administration.
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Journal of Management Information Systems
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
This high-impact journal publishes research that advances the practice and understanding of organisational information systems. It considers new models of information delivery and the changing landscape of information policy making.
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Journal of Strategic Information Systems
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
Articles which focus on the management, business and organisational issues associated with the introduction and utilisation of information systems as a strategic tool.
Google Scholar searches for academic content online. It's a useful additional resource when looking for books, journal articles and other papers.
But you may be asked to pay for access to some resources and it does not have full search controls or filters like Discovery/Business Source Complete.
To save time, set Scholar to show which results you can access via your University of Portsmouth's library subscriptions:
- In Scholar, click on the three line icon in the top left corner
- Select 'Settings' and 'Library Links'.
- Enter 'Portsmouth' in the search box and select 'University of Portsmouth Library - Full-text@Portsmouth' and Save.
- Any results available via the University Library will now show a Full-Text@Portsmouth link on the right hand side.
- Scholar also offers an alerting service, a referencing option and a times cited count.
Use these powerful tools to find out which articles are citing other articles, to follow up references and to see which are the most highly cited articles:
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Scopus
Large abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature covering all subject areas.
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Web of Science
Part of Web of Knowledge, includes records for thousands of scholarly publications. Search across three main citation databases (Science/Social Science/Arts & Humanities).
Company and Industry resources
Try these resources for information on markets, industries and larger companies - includes market research, statistics, industry profiles and more:
Try these resources for information on markets, industries and larger companies - includes market research, statistics, industry profiles and more:
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GlobalData Explorer
Search for and compare companies, industries, sectors, economies and cities across the world. Includes macroeconomic data, industry and company reports and analysis, business news, product launches and ads, and job analytics.
Library Basics Video Guide (further support videos are available within the database)
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IBISWorld
Provides a comprehensive collection of industry reports on very specific sectors in the UK as well as further specialist reports. Also covers industries globally, in the US, China, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
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Mintel Reports and Mintel Trends
Detailed market research reports on a range of UK sectors including: automotive; beauty and personal care; lifestyles; drink, food and foodservice; health and wellbeing; leisure; media; technology; and travel. Also includes access to Mintel Trends which provides evidence-backed insights on how today's consumer thinks, feels and acts.
Video support:
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Statista: the portal for statistics
Access to more than a million statistics from many different sources. Useful for finding industrial, economic and consumer market statistical trends.
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WARC : World Advertising Research Center
Specialist database with articles, research reports, interactive data and case studies covering advertising and more. Also includes some Euromonitor company profiles and strategy briefings.
VIDEO tutorials on WARC's strategy, media and creative menus (please login above first to view these)
News services
Keep up-to-date and develop your awareness of the business world by using these services:
Keep up-to-date and develop your awareness of the business world by using these services:
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The Economist
Leading weekly magazine covering global political, economic and business news. Includes archive back to 1997. App also available.
A full archive from 1843-2015 is available via Gale Historical Archive
To access:
- Enter your University email address
- Select University of Portsmouth
- Sign in with your University username and password.
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Financial Times
Register using your UoP details to access the current FT, and the archive back to 2004, for business and commercial news as well as global financial markets, company and industrial sector information. You can also subscribe to newsletters or use the FT app.
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Nexis Uni
Full text articles from many news sources and trade journals both UK and international. Archives sometimes stretching back to the mid 1980s. For use in the UK only.
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PressReader
PressReader lets you access UK and international newspapers, plus a wide range of magazine content. Everything is full colour with archives varying in length depending on the publication.
Referencing
• Plagiarism - why do we care? (file for download)
This file is restricted to University members. You must login to download it.
• Referencing - a few common hazards and sources of help (file for download)
This file is restricted to University members. You must login to download it.
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Referencing Support
Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery
A webpage outlining the support that can be obtained for referencing accurately and consistently.