Campus Library FAQ: How do I find full-text articles in Academic Search Complete?

Full-text scholarly articles are generally available in subject-specific databases and general research databases like Academic Search Complete. These databases can include journal articles, conference proceedings, and other information types published in related academic subjects or disciplines.

1. Let's start from a list of search results within Academic Search Complete. (If you're wondering how to access and search the database, see How do I search in Academic Complete?) In the example below, we have typed in the search words gender inequality and STEM, have selected the Peer Reviewed filter button below the search box.

To view the search result example below copy and paste the article title, "Gender in Technology, Engineering and Design: factors which influence low STEM subject uptake among females at third level" into the search box and select the search button.  

Within these search results there will be two options for finding full-text articles: On the Results page you can select the Access options button, and you have the first option is the PDF, and the second option is Online full text. They both provide direct viewing of the full text. 

2. First we’ll look at a search result with a link to the full-text article. The “Access Now (PDF)” link will take us directly to the full-text article.

To view the search result example below copy and paste the article title, "From Policy to Practice: Advancing gender equality in STEM in North Macedonia," into the search box and select the search button. 

3. From the full-text PDF view of this article, select the “back arrow” icon to return to the full list of your search results.

4. Most results in Academic Search Complete do NOT have a direct link to the full text, but access may be available through the UW Libraries Search system. Select the “Access now” button and a new tab will open viewing the UW Libraries Search page for this article title that is illustrated in Step 5. 

To view the search result example below copy and paste the article title, "Queen's Gambit Declined: The Gender-Equality Paradox in Chess Participation Across 160 Countries," into the search box and select the search button. 

There may be a few more steps to access the full-text of this article...

5. Look for one or more links under the View Online heading in the UW Libraries details page, and select one of the vendor links. In the image below we selected the SAGE Premier 2014 link. 

6. Following the links to a full-text article may lead to different paths. Look for words like: Full Text, PDF, or HTML.

In the image below we select the PDF/ePub option to download it.

7. If you are accessing full-text articles from off-campus, you may need to sign-in with your UW NetID. Select the green "Log in for all services" button to do this. 

How do I find full-text scholarly articles in my subject?

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