What is JSTOR? How to Use JSTOR for Research? 

For most researchers, navigating multiple databases in their search for credible, relevant literature to support their research work can be a grueling challenge. More so, if you consider that the number of new scholarly journals is growing at around 2-3% each year.¹ Thankfully, there is help available in the form of JSTOR – a vast digital repository filled with thousands of academic journals, books, and articles from various fields.  

Established in 1995 as a not-for-profit organization, JSTOR, short for ‘Journal Storage,’ aims to provide researchers with quick access to academic content in a rapidly evolving digital era. It actively collaborates with libraries, museums, and publishers to make access to scientific literature easier and more affordable, enabling researchers to break free from the limitations of traditional print archives. 

Key features of JSTOR for Research

Over the years, JSTOR has become an important tool for researchers and those in academia, especially in fields such as humanities and social sciences. Let us take a look at some of the key features that enhance the literature search experience for researchers –  

• Intuitive search interface: JSTOR’s straightforward and easy-to-use search interface enables users to locate articles quickly by title, author, or keywords.  
• Offers advanced search options: This allows researchers to key in specific queries, making information more accessible to find.  
• Organized workspace feature: This feature enables researchers to manage their resources efficiently by allowing them to save articles, create folders, and annotate documents for easy reference and management. 
• Extensive database: JSTOR offers access to millions of academic articles, journals, and books, allowing researchers to find relevant literature for their topic of study. 
• Access to primary sources: The JSTOR library provides access to primary sources such as historical documents, images, and maps, making it particularly valuable for those conducting interdisciplinary research or historical studies. 
• Citation tools: JSTOR offers built-in citation tools that help users generate citations in various formats (APA, MLA, Chicago), streamlining the process of referencing sources. 
• Open-access content: The JSTOR library provides a fairly broad range of literature with a selection of open-access content that is freely available to all users. 

How to use JSTOR for research: A step-by-step guide 

1. Create an account: While some content is available without an account, creating a free JSTOR account allows you to save articles and access additional features. 
2. Search for articles: Use the search bar on the homepage to enter keywords related to your research topic. You can filter by type of journal article, book, or discipline. 
3. Use the advanced search option: This can help you combine multiple search terms and even narrow down your search using filters such as publication date or subject area. 
4. Review search results: Browse through the search results and click on titles that seem relevant.  
5. Save and organize: Use the Workspace feature to save articles you wish to revisit later. You can create folders to categorize your research materials effectively. 
6. Cite your sources: When referencing articles in your work, use the citation tools provided by JSTOR to generate accurate citations in your preferred format. 

Limitations of using JSTOR for research 

Despite its many obvious advantages, experts suggest that the JSTOR library must be used cautiously for the following reasons: 

• JSTOR primarily presents older, archived issues of journals instead of providing access to the most current research, which can affect the accuracy and credibility of the researchers. 
• Importantly, the JSTOR database is not as comprehensive as one would like. In fact, there may be newer journals that may not be included.  
• While some content is open access, much of the literature in JSTOR’s database requires institutional subscriptions or individual purchases. This can pose challenges for fund-starved independent researchers who may not be able to afford expensive subscriptions. 

Alternatives to JSTOR 

Researchers seeking alternatives to the JSTOR library can now make use of AI-powered tools like R Discovery. This popular literature search app offers access to over 250 million research papers and allows researchers to customize their research reading. It provides personalized daily research reading recommendations, curated feeds, institutional access to paywalled journal articles, smart summaries, and new research alerts – all based on your specific interests. Additionally, the app includes invaluable features like audio options that allow users to listen to articles in over 30 languages and read research papers on R Discovery.  

So, while JSTOR remains a key resource for accessing academic literature, it also has limitations that researchers must carefully consider. Experts suggest that it may be a good idea to use AI-powered apps like R Discovery together with JSTOR’s database for a more comprehensive and effective literature search. 

Reference: 

1. https://www.internationalbunch.com/post/key-findings-from-the-stm-global-brief-2021-economics-market-size#:~:text=In%202020%20the%20global%20STM,library%20budgets%20have%20practically%20halved. 

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