Below are the different ways to access scientific articles:
1. Subscription-based journals and databases
Subscription-based journals and databases require a paid subscription to access their content. Examples of these are JSTOR, Elsevier, and Springer. These journals and databases usually offer a mix of scientific and nonscientific publications. However, accessing such databases can be quite costly, and not all institutions and individuals can afford it. Researchers can check the library of their respective institutions if they have subscriptions to these databases. There have also been efforts in recent years to make scientific articles more accessible by providing some of the articles openly via open access models, making scientific articles and research results available to a wider range of audiences.
2. Open Access Articles
Open access articles, as the name suggests, are freely available online to everyone. These articles are published by reputable publications, and the publication costs are borne by the author or their affiliated institution. Some of the most popular open access publications are PLOS ONE, BMC, and eLIFE. It’s worth noting that it’s essential to check the reliability of these publications.
3. Pre-print servers
Pre-print servers are platforms that allow researchers to publish their research work before it undergoes peer-review. ResearchGate and arXiv are suitable examples of pre-print servers. Though pre-prints are not peer-reviewed yet, it provides researchers with early access to vital research findings and allows them to learn about emerging trends in the scientific community.
4. Research repositories
Research repositories are platforms that allow research work to be archived and published by the author. Examples of these are Zenodo and Figshare. These repositories allow researchers to publish their work as well as increase their research visibility and promote their work further. They provide researchers with a stable and permanent place to keep their work, and the data can be accessed freely.
5. Social Media platforms
Social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram are playing increasingly significant roles in sharing scientific articles and sharing research findings and ideas publicly. Researchers can access scientific articles by following accounts that specialize in scientific research and publications. One can create a list of reliable scientific accounts on Twitter or LinkedIn and then see their posts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the above-discussed ways are just a few examples of how researchers and scholars can access scientific articles. These recent advancements provide learners, teachers, writers, and researchers with valuable materials for research. The biggest challenge now is to access reliable scientific articles to avoid conflicting results and misinformation. Therefore, researchers should always double-check the reliability of scientific articles they find online. We are in a time when the advancements in technology are making it easier to access research materials, and this will help to speed up the progress in scientific research. As researchers, we must be creative in our research as we expand our knowledge frontiers and create a better tomorrow.