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14 Websites to Download Research Paper for Free – 2023

Download Research Paper for Free

Table of contents

2. z-library, 3. library genesis, 4. unpaywall, 5. gettheresearch.org, 6. directory of open access journals (doaj), 7. researcher, 8. science open, 10. internet archive scholar, 11. citationsy archives, 13. dimensions, 14. paperpanda.

Collecting and reading relevant research articles to one’s research areas is important for PhD scholars. But for any research scholar, downloading a research paper is one of the most difficult tasks. You must pay for access to high-quality research materials or subscribe to the journal or publication. In this article, ilovephd lists the top 14 websites to download free research papers, journals, books, datasets, patents, and conference proceedings downloads.

Download Research Paper for Free – 2023

14 best free websites to download research papers are listed below:

Sci-Hub is a website link with over 64.5 million academic papers and articles available for direct download. It bypasses publisher paywalls by allowing access through educational institution proxies.  To download papers Sci-Hub  stores papers in its repository, this storage is called Library Genesis (LibGen) or library genesis proxy 2023.

Visit: Working Sci-Hub Proxy Links – 2023

Z-Library is a clone of Library Genesis, a shadow library project that allows users to share scholarly journal articles, academic texts, and general-interest books via file sharing (some of which are pirated). The majority of its books come from Library Genesis, however, some are posted directly to the site by individuals.

Individuals can also donate to the website’s repository to make literature more widely available. Z-library claims to have more than  10,139,382 Books  and  84,837,646 Articles  articles as of April 25, 2023.

It promises to be “the world’s largest e-book library” as well as “the world’s largest scientific papers repository,” according to the project’s page for academic publications (at booksc.org). Z-library also describes itself as a donation-based non-profit organization.

Visit: Z-Library – You can Download 70,000,000+ scientific articles for free

The Library Genesis aggregator is a community aiming at collecting and cataloging item descriptions for the most part of scientific, scientific, and technical directions, as well as file metadata. In addition to the descriptions, the aggregator contains only links to third-party resources hosted by users. All information posted on the website is collected from publicly available public Internet resources and is intended solely for informational purposes.

Visit: libgen.li

Unpaywall harvests Open Access content from over 50,000 publishers and repositories, and makes it easy to find, track, and use. It is integrated into thousands of library systems, search platforms, and other information products worldwide. In fact, if you’re involved in scholarly communication, there’s a good chance you’ve already used Unpaywall data.

Unpaywall is run by OurResearch, a nonprofit dedicated to making scholarships more accessible to everyone. Open is our passion. So it’s only natural our source code is open, too.

Visit: unpaywall.org

GetTheResearch.org is an  Artificial Intelligence(AI)  powered search engine for search and understand  scientific articles  for researchers and scientists. It was developed as a part of the  Unpaywall  project. Unpaywall is a database of 23,329,737 free scholarly Open Access(OA) articles from over 50,000 publishers and repositories, and make it easy to find, track, and use.

Visit: Find and Understand 25 Million Peer-Reviewed Research Papers for Free

DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) was launched in 2003 with 300 open-access journals. Today, this independent index contains almost 17 500 peer-reviewed, open-access journals covering all areas of science, technology, medicine, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Open-access journals from all countries and in all languages are accepted for indexing.

DOAJ is financially supported by many libraries, publishers, and other like-minded organizations. Supporting DOAJ demonstrates a firm commitment to open access and the infrastructure that supports it.

Visit: doaj.org

The researcher is a free journal-finding mobile application that helps you to read new journal papers every day that are relevant to your research. It is the most popular mobile application used by more than 3 million scientists and researchers to keep themselves updated with the latest academic literature.

Visit: 10 Best Apps for Graduate Students 

ScienceOpen  is a discovery platform with interactive features for scholars to enhance their research in the open, make an impact, and receive credit for it. It provides context-building services for publishers, to bring researchers closer to the content than ever before. These advanced search and discovery functions, combined with post-publication peer review, recommendation, social sharing, and collection-building features make  ScienceOpen  the only research platform you’ll ever need.

Visit: scienceopen.com

OA.mg is a search engine for academic papers. Whether you are looking for a specific paper, or for research from a field, or all of an author’s works – OA.mg is the place to find it.

Visit: oa.mg

Internet Archive Scholar (IAS) is a full-text search index that includes over 25 million research articles and other scholarly documents preserved in the Internet Archive. The collection spans from digitized copies of eighteenth-century journals through the latest Open Access conference proceedings and pre-prints crawled from the World Wide Web.

Visit: Sci hub Alternative – Internet Archive Scholar

Citationsy was founded in 2017 after the reference manager Cenk was using at the time, RefMe, was shut down. It was immediately obvious that the reason people loved RefMe — a clean interface, speed, no ads, simplicity of use — did not apply to CiteThisForMe. It turned out to be easier than anticipated to get a rough prototype up.

Visit: citationsy.com

CORE is the world’s largest aggregator of open-access research papers from repositories and journals. It is a not-for-profit service dedicated to the open-access mission. We serve the global network of repositories and journals by increasing the discoverability and reuse of open-access content.

It provides solutions for content management, discovery, and scalable machine access to research. Our services support a wide range of stakeholders, specifically researchers, the general public, academic institutions, developers, funders, and companies from a diverse range of sectors including but not limited to innovators, AI technology companies, digital library solutions, and pharma.

Visit: core.ac.uk

Dimensions cover millions of research publications connected by more than 1.6 billion citations, supporting grants, datasets, clinical trials, patents, and policy documents.

Dimensions are the most comprehensive research grants database that links grants to millions of resulting publications, clinical trials, and patents. It

provides up-to-the-minute online attention data via Altmetric, showing you how often publications and clinical trials are discussed around the world. 226m Altmetric mentions with 17m links to publications.

Dimensions include datasets from repositories such as Figshare, Dryad, Zenodo, Pangaea, and many more. It hosts millions of patents with links to other citing patents as well as to publications and supporting grants.

Visit: dimensions.ai

PaperPanda is a Chrome extension that uses some clever logic and the Panda’s detective skills to find you the research paper PDFs you need. Essentially, when you activate PaperPanda it finds the DOI of the paper from the current page, and then goes and searches for it. It starts by querying various Open Access repositories like OpenAccessButton, OaDoi, SemanticScholar, Core, ArXiV, and the Internet Archive. You can also set your university libraries domain in the settings (this feature is in the works and coming soon). PaperPanda will then automatically search for the paper through your library. You can also set a different custom domain in the settings.

Visit: PaperPanda

I Hope, this article would help you to know some of the best websites to download the research papers and journals for free.

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10 Free Research and Journal Databases

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• 6th April 2019

Finding good research can be tough, especially when so much of it is locked behind paywalls . But there are free resources out there if you know where to look. So to help out, we’ve compiled a list of ten free academic search engines and databases that you should check out.

1. Google Scholar

Even if you’ve not used Google Scholar before, you’ll know Google. And, thus, you can probably guess that Google Scholar is a search engine dedicated to academic work. Not everything listed on Google Scholar will be freely available in full. But it is a good place to start if you’re looking for a specific paper, and many papers can be downloaded for free.

CORE is an open research aggregator. This means it works as a search engine for open access research published by organizations from around the world, all of which is available for free. It is also the world’s largest open access aggregator , so it is a very useful resource for researchers!

3. Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE)

Another dedicated academic search engine, BASE offers access to more than 140 million documents from more than 6,000 sources. Around 60% of these documents are open access, and you can filter results to see only research that is available for free online.

4. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a database that lists around 12,000 open access journals covering all areas of science, technology, medicine, social science, and the humanities.

PubMed is a search engine maintained by the NCBI, part of the United States National Library of Medicine. It provides access to more than 29 million citations of biomedical research from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. The NCBI runs a similar search engine for research in the chemical sciences called PubChem , too, which is also free to use.

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6. E-Theses Online Service (EThOS)

Run by the British Library, EThOS is a database of over 500,000 doctoral theses. More than half of these are available for free, either directly via EThOS or via a link to a university website.

7. Social Science Research Network (SSRN)

SSRN is a database for research from the social sciences and humanities, including 846,589 research papers from 426,107 researchers across 30 disciplines. Most of these are available for free, although you may need to sign up as a member (also free) to access some services.

8. WorldWideScience

WorldWideScience is a global academic search engine, providing access to national and international scientific databases from across the globe. One interesting feature is that it offers automatic translation, so users can have search results translated into their preferred language.

9. Semantic Scholar

Semantic Scholar is an “intelligent” academic search engine. It uses machine learning to prioritize the most important research, which can make it easier to find relevant literature. Or, in Semantic Scholar’s own words, it uses influential citations, images, and key phrases to “cut through the clutter.”

10. Public Library of Science (PLOS)

PLOS is an open-access research organization that publishes several journals. But as well as publishing its own research, PLOS is a dedicated advocate for open-access learning. So if you appreciate the search engines and databases we’ve listed here, check out the rest of the PLOS site to find out more about their campaign to enable access to knowledge.

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21 Legit Research Databases for Free Journal Articles in 2022

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Written by  Scribendi

Has this ever happened to you? While looking for websites for research, you come across a research paper site that claims to connect academics to a peer-reviewed article database for free.

Intrigued, you search for keywords related to your topic, only to discover that you must pay a hefty subscription fee to access the service. After the umpteenth time being duped, you begin to wonder if there's even such a thing as free journal articles .

Subscription fees and paywalls are often the bane of students and academics, especially those at small institutions who don't provide access to many free article directories and repositories.

Whether you're working on an undergraduate paper, a PhD dissertation, or a medical research study, we want to help you find tools to locate and access the information you need to produce well-researched, compelling, and innovative work.

Below, we discuss why peer-reviewed articles are superior and list out the best free article databases to use in 2022.

Download Our Free Research Database Roundup PDF

Why peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles are more authoritative.

Determining what sources are reliable can be challenging. Peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles are the gold standard in academic research. Reputable academic journals have a rigorous peer-review process.

The peer review process provides accountability to the academic community, as well as to the content of the article. The peer review process involves qualified experts in a specific (often very specific) field performing a review of an article's methods and findings to determine things like quality and credibility.

Peer-reviewed articles can be found in peer-reviewed article databases and research databases, and if you know that a database of journals is reliable, that can offer reassurances about the reliability of a free article. Peer review is often double blind, meaning that the author removes all identifying information and, likewise, does not know the identity of the reviewers. This helps reviewers maintain objectivity and impartiality so as to judge an article based on its merit.

Where to Find Peer-Reviewed Articles

Peer-reviewed articles can be found in a variety of research databases. Below is a list of some of the major databases you can use to find peer-reviewed articles and other sources in disciplines spanning the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

What Are Open Access Journals?

An open access (OA) journal is a journal whose content can be accessed without payment. This provides scholars, students, and researchers with free journal articles . OA journals use alternate methods of funding to cover publication costs so that articles can be published without having to pass those publication costs on to the reader.

Some of these funding models include standard funding methods like advertising, public funding, and author payment models, where the author pays a fee in order to publish in the journal. There are OA journals that have non-peer-reviewed academic content, as well as journals that focus on dissertations, theses, and papers from conferences, but the main focus of OA is peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles.

The internet has certainly made it easier to access research articles and other scholarly publications without needing access to a university library, and OA takes another step in that direction by removing financial barriers to academic content.

Choosing Wisely

Features of legitimate oa journals.

 There are things to look out for when trying to decide if a free publication journal is legitimate:

Mission statement —The mission statement for an OA journal should be available on their website.

Publication history —Is the journal well established? How long has it been available?

Editorial board —Who are the members of the editorial board, and what are their credentials?

Indexing —Can the journal be found in a reliable database?

Peer review —What is the peer review process? Does the journal allow enough time in the process for a reliable assessment of quality?

Impact factor —What is the average number of times the journal is cited over a two-year period?

Features of Illegitimate OA Journals

There are predatory publications that take advantage of the OA format, and they are something to be wary of. Here are some things to look out for:

Contact information —Is contact information provided? Can it be verified?

Turnaround —If the journal makes dubious claims about the amount of time from submission to publication, it is likely unreliable.

Editorial board —Much like determining legitimacy, looking at the editorial board and their credentials can help determine illegitimacy.

Indexing —Can the journal be found in any scholarly databases?

Peer review —Is there a statement about the peer review process? Does it fit what you know about peer review?

How to Find Scholarly Articles

Identify keywords.

Keywords are included in an article by the author. Keywords are an excellent way to find content relevant to your research topic or area of interest. In academic searches, much like you would on a search engine, you can use keywords to navigate through what is available to find exactly what you're looking for.

Authors provide keywords that will help you easily find their article when researching a related topic, often including general terms to accommodate broader searches, as well as some more specific terms for those with a narrower scope. Keywords can be used individually or in combination to refine your scholarly article search.

Narrow Down Results

Sometimes, search results can be overwhelming, and searching for free articles on a journal database is no exception, but there are multiple ways to narrow down your results. A good place to start is discipline.

What category does your topic fall into (psychology, architecture, machine learning, etc.)? You can also narrow down your search with a year range if you're looking for articles that are more recent.

A Boolean search can be incredibly helpful. This entails including terms like AND between two keywords in your search if you need both keywords to be in your results (or, if you are looking to exclude certain keywords, to exclude these words from the results).

Consider Different Avenues

If you're not having luck using keywords in your search for free articles, you may still be able to find what you're looking for by changing your tactics. Casting a wider net sometimes yields positive results, so it may be helpful to try searching by subject if keywords aren't getting you anywhere.

You can search for a specific publisher to see if they have OA publications in the academic journal database. And, if you know more precisely what you're looking for, you can search for the title of the article or the author's name.

The Top 21 Free Online Journal and Research Databases

Navigating OA journals, research article databases, and academic websites trying to find high-quality sources for your research can really make your head spin. What constitutes a reliable database? What is a useful resource for your discipline and research topic? How can you find and access full-text, peer-reviewed articles?

Fortunately, we're here to help. Having covered some of the ins and outs of peer review, OA journals, and how to search for articles, we have compiled a list of the top 21 free online journals and the best research databases. This list of databases is a great resource to help you navigate the wide world of academic research.

These databases provide a variety of free sources, from abstracts and citations to full-text, peer-reviewed OA journals. With databases covering specific areas of research and interdisciplinary databases that provide a variety of material, these are some of our favorite free databases, and they're totally legit!

CORE is a multidisciplinary aggregator of OA research. CORE has the largest collection of OA articles available. It allows users to search more than 219 million OA articles. While most of these link to the full-text article on the original publisher's site, or to a PDF available for download, five million records are hosted directly on CORE.

CORE's mission statement is a simple and straightforward commitment to offering OA articles to anyone, anywhere in the world. They also host communities that are available for researchers to join and an ambassador community to enhance their services globally. In addition to a straightforward keyword search, CORE offers advanced search options to filter results by publication type, year, language, journal, repository, and author.

CORE's user interface is easy to use and navigate. Search results can be sorted based on relevance or recency, and you can search for relevant content directly from the results screen.

Collection: 219,537,133 OA articles

Other Services: Additional services are available from CORE, with extras that are geared toward researchers, repositories, and businesses. There are tools for accessing raw data, including an API that provides direct access to data, datasets that are available for download, and FastSync for syncing data content from the CORE database.

CORE has a recommender plug-in that suggests relevant OA content in the database while conducting a search and a discovery feature that helps you discover OA versions of paywalled articles. Other features include tools for managing content, such as a dashboard for managing repository output and the Repository Edition service to enhance discoverability.

Good Source of Peer-Reviewed Articles: Yes

Advanced Search Options: Language, author, journal, publisher, repository, DOI, year

2. ScienceOpen

Functioning as a research and publishing network, ScienceOpen offers OA to more than 74 million articles in all areas of science. Although you do need to register to view the full text of articles, registration is free. The advanced search function is highly detailed, allowing you to find exactly the research you're looking for.

The Berlin- and Boston-based company was founded in 2013 to "facilitate open and public communications between academics and to allow ideas to be judged on their merit, regardless of where they come from." Search results can be exported for easy integration with reference management systems.

You can also bookmark articles for later research. There are extensive networking options, including your Science Open profile, a forum for interacting with other researchers, the ability to track your usage and citations, and an interactive bibliography. Users have the ability to review articles and provide their knowledge and insight within the community.

Collection: 74,560,631

Other Services: None

Advanced Search Options:  Content type, source, author, journal, discipline

3. Directory of Open Access Journals

A multidisciplinary, community-curated directory, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) gives researchers access to high-quality peer-reviewed journals. It has archived more than two million articles from 17,193 journals, allowing you to either browse by subject or search by keyword.

The site was launched in 2003 with the aim of increasing the visibility of OA scholarly journals online. Content on the site covers subjects from science, to law, to fine arts, and everything in between. DOAJ has a commitment to "increase the visibility, accessibility, reputation, usage and impact of quality, peer-reviewed, OA scholarly research journals globally, regardless of discipline, geography or language."

Information about the journal is available with each search result. Abstracts are also available in a collapsible format directly from the search screen. The scholarly article website is somewhat simple, but it is easy to navigate. There are 16 principles of transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing that clearly outline DOAJ policies and standards.

Collection: 6,817,242

Advanced Search Options:  Subject, journal, year

4. Education Resources Information Center

The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) of the Institution of Education Sciences allows you to search by topic for material related to the field of education. Links lead to other sites, where you may have to purchase the information, but you can search for full-text articles only. You can also search only peer-reviewed sources.

The service primarily indexes journals, gray literature (such as technical reports, white papers, and government documents), and books. All sources of material on ERIC go through a formal review process prior to being indexed. ERIC's selection policy is available as a PDF on their website.

The ERIC website has an extensive FAQ section to address user questions. This includes categories like general questions, peer review, and ERIC content. There are also tips for advanced searches, as well as general guidance on the best way to search the database. ERIC is an excellent database for content specific to education.

Collection: 1,292,897

Advanced Search Options: Boolean

5. arXiv e-Print Archive

The arXiv e-Print Archive is run by Cornell University Library and curated by volunteer moderators, and it now offers OA to more than one million e-prints.

There are advisory committees for all eight subjects available on the database. With a stated commitment to an "emphasis on openness, collaboration, and scholarship," the arXiv e-Print Archive is an excellent STEM resource.

The interface is not as user-friendly as some of the other databases available, and the website hosts a blog to provide news and updates, but it is otherwise a straightforward math and science resource. There are simple and advanced search options, and, in addition to conducting searches for specific topics and articles, users can browse content by subject. The arXiv e-Print Archive clearly states that they do not peer review the e-prints in the database.

Collection: 1,983,891

Good Source of Peer-Reviewed Articles: No

Advanced Search Options:  Subject, date, title, author, abstract, DOI

6. Social Science Research Network

The Social Science Research Network (SSRN) is a collection of papers from the social sciences community. It is a highly interdisciplinary platform used to search for scholarly articles related to 67 social science topics. SSRN has a variety of research networks for the various topics available through the free scholarly database.

The site offers more than 700,000 abstracts and more than 600,000 full-text papers. There is not yet a specific option to search for only full-text articles, but, because most of the papers on the site are free access, it's not often that you encounter a paywall. There is currently no option to search for only peer-reviewed articles.

You must become a member to use the services, but registration is free and enables you to interact with other scholars around the world. SSRN is "passionately committed to increasing inclusion, diversity and equity in scholarly research," and they encourage and discuss the use of inclusive language in scholarship whenever possible.

Collection: 1,058,739 abstracts; 915,452 articles

Advanced Search Options: Term, author, date, network

7. Public Library of Science

Public Library of Science (PLOS) is a big player in the world of OA science. Publishing 12 OA journals, the nonprofit organization is committed to facilitating openness in academic research. According to the site, "all PLOS content is at the highest possible level of OA, meaning that scientific articles are immediately and freely available to anyone, anywhere."

PLOS outlines four fundamental goals that guide the organization: break boundaries, empower researchers, redefine quality, and open science. All PLOS journals are peer-reviewed, and all 12 journals uphold rigorous ethical standards for research, publication, and scientific reporting.

PLOS does not offer advanced search options. Content is organized by topic into research communities that users can browse through, in addition to options to search for both articles and journals. The PLOS website also has resources for peer reviewers, including guidance on becoming a reviewer and on how to best participate in the peer review process.

Collection: 12 journals

Advanced Search Options: None

8. OpenDOAR

OpenDOAR, or the Directory of Open Access Repositories, is a comprehensive resource for finding free OA journals and articles. Using Google Custom Search, OpenDOAR combs through OA repositories around the world and returns relevant research in all disciplines.

The repositories it searches through are assessed and categorized by OpenDOAR staff to ensure they meet quality standards. Inclusion criteria for the database include requirements for OA content, global access, and categorically appropriate content, in addition to various other quality assurance measures. OpenDOAR has metadata, data, content, preservation, and submission policies for repositories, in addition to two OA policy statements regarding minimum and optimum recommendations.

This database allows users to browse and search repositories, which can then be selected, and articles and data can be accessed from the repository directly. As a repository database, much of the content on the site is geared toward the support of repositories and OA standards.

Collection: 5,768 repositories

Other Services: OpenDOAR offers a variety of additional services. Given the nature of the platform, services are primarily aimed at repositories and institutions, and there is a marked focus on OA in general. Sherpa services are OA archiving tools for authors and institutions.

They also offer various resources for OA support and compliance regarding standards and policies. The publication router matches publications and publishers with appropriate repositories.

There are also services and resources from JISC for repositories for cost management, discoverability, research impact, and interoperability, including ORCID consortium membership information. Additionally, a repository self-assessment tool is available for members.

Advanced Search Options:  Name, organization name, repository type, software name, content type, subject, country, region

9. Bielefeld Academic Search Engine

The Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE) is operated by the Bielefeld University Library in Germany, and it offers more than 240 million documents from more than 8,000 sources. Sixty percent of its content is OA, and you can filter your search accordingly.

BASE has rigorous inclusion requirements for content providers regarding quality and relevance, and they maintain a list of content providers for the sake of transparency, which can be easily found on their website. BASE has a fairly elegant interface. Search results can be organized by author, title, or date.

From the search results, items can be selected and exported, added to favorites, emailed, and searched in Google Scholar. There are basic and advanced search features, with the advanced search offering numerous options for refining search criteria. There is also a feature on the website that saves recent searches without additional steps from the user.

Collection: 276,019,066 documents; 9,286 content providers

Advanced Search Options:  Author, subject, year, content provider, language, document type, access, terms of reuse

10. Digital Library of the Commons Repository

Run by Indiana University, the Digital Library of the Commons (DLC) Repository is a multidisciplinary journal repository that allows users to access thousands of free and OA articles from around the world. You can browse by document type, date, author, title, and more or search for keywords relevant to your topic.

DCL also offers the Comprehensive Bibliography of the Commons, an image database, and a keyword thesaurus for enhanced search parameters. The repository includes books, book chapters, conference papers, journal articles, surveys, theses and dissertations, and working papers. DCL advanced search features drop-down menus of search types with built-in Boolean search options.

Searches can be sorted by relevance, title, date, or submission date in ascending or descending order. Abstracts are included in selected search results, with access to full texts available, and citations can be exported from the same page. Additionally, the image database search includes tips for better search results.

Collection: 10,784

Advanced Search Options:  Author, date, title, subject, sector, region, conference

11. CIA World Factbook

The CIA World Factbook is a little different from the other resources on this list in that it is not an online journal directory or repository. It is, however, a useful free online research database for academics in a variety of disciplines.

All the information is free to access, and it provides facts about every country in the world, which are organized by category and include information about history, geography, transportation, and much more. The World Factbook can be searched by country or region, and there is also information about the world’s oceans.

This site contains resources related to the CIA as an organization rather than being a scientific journal database specifically. The site has a user interface that is easy to navigate. The site also provides a section for updates regarding changes to what information is available and how it is organized, making it easier to interact with the information you are searching for.

Collection: 266 countries

12. Paperity

Paperity boasts its status as the "first multidisciplinary aggregator of OA journals and papers." Their focus is on helping you avoid paywalls while connecting you to authoritative research. In addition to providing readers with easy access to thousands of journals, Paperity seeks to help authors reach their audiences and help journals increase their exposure to boost readership.

Paperity has journal articles for every discipline, and the database offers more than a dozen advanced search options, including the length of the paper and the number of authors. There is even an option to include, exclude, or exclusively search gray papers.

Paperity is available for mobile, with both a mobile site and the Paperity Reader, an app that is available for both Android and Apple users. The database is also available on social media. You can interact with Paperity via Twitter and Facebook, and links to their social media are available on their homepage, including their Twitter feed.

Collection: 8,837,396

Advanced Search Options: Title, abstract, journal title, journal ISSN, publisher, year of publication, number of characters, number of authors, DOI, author, affiliation, language, country, region, continent, gray papers

13. dblp Computer Science Bibliography

The dblp Computer Science Bibliography is an online index of major computer science publications. dblp was founded in 1993, though until 2010 it was a university-specific database at the University of Trier in Germany. It is currently maintained by the Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz Center for Informatics.

Although it provides access to both OA articles and those behind a paywall, you can limit your search to only OA articles. The site indexes more than three million publications, making it an invaluable resource in the world of computer science. dblp entries are color-coded based on the type of item.

dblp has an extensive FAQ section, so questions that might arise about topics like the database itself, navigating the website, or the data on dblp, in addition to several other topics, are likely to be answered. The website also hosts a blog and has a section devoted to website statistics.

Collection: 5,884,702

14. EconBiz

EconBiz is a great resource for economic and business studies. A service of the Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, it offers access to full texts online, with the option of searching for OA material only. Their literature search is performed across multiple international databases.

EconBiz has an incredibly useful research skills section, with resources such as Guided Walk, a service to help students and researchers navigate searches, evaluate sources, and correctly cite references; the Research Guide EconDesk, a help desk to answer specific questions and provide advice to aid in literature searches; and the Academic Career Kit for what they refer to as Early Career Researchers.

Other helpful resources include personal literature lists, a calendar of events for relevant calls for papers, conferences, and workshops, and an economics terminology thesaurus to help in finding keywords for searches. To stay up-to-date with EconBiz, you can sign up for their newsletter.

Collection: 1,075,219

Advanced Search Options:  Title, subject, author, institution, ISBN/ISSN, journal, publisher, language, OA only

15. BioMed Central

BioMed Central provides OA research from more than 300 peer-reviewed journals. While originally focused on resources related to the physical sciences, math, and engineering, BioMed Central has branched out to include journals that cover a broader range of disciplines, with the aim of providing a single platform that provides OA articles for a variety of research needs. You can browse these journals by subject or title, or you can search all articles for your required keyword.

BioMed Central has a commitment to peer-reviewed sources and to the peer review process itself, continually seeking to help and improve the peer review process. They're "committed to maintaining high standards through full and stringent peer review." They publish the journal Research Integrity and Peer Review , which publishes research on the subject.

Additionally, the website includes resources to assist and support editors as part of their commitment to providing high-quality, peer-reviewed OA articles.

Collection: 507,212

Other Services: BMC administers the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry. While initially designed for registering clinical trials, since its creation in 2000, the registry has broadened its scope to include other health studies as well.

The registry is recognized by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), and it meets the requirements established by the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.

The study records included in the registry are all searchable and free to access. The ISRCTN registry "supports transparency in clinical research, helps reduce selective reporting of results and ensures an unbiased and complete evidence base."

Advanced Search Options:  Author, title, journal, list

A multidisciplinary search engine, JURN provides links to various scholarly websites, articles, and journals that are free to access or OA. Covering the fields of the arts, humanities, business, law, nature, science, and medicine, JURN has indexed almost 5,000 repositories to help you find exactly what you're looking for.

Search features are enhanced by Google, but searches are filtered through their index of repositories. JURN seeks to reach a wide audience, with their search engine tailored to researchers from "university lecturers and students seeking a strong search tool for OA content" and "advanced and ambitious students, age 14-18" to "amateur historians and biographers" and "unemployed and retired lecturers."

That being said, JURN is very upfront about its limitations. They admit to not being a good resource for educational studies, social studies, or psychology, and conference archives are generally not included due to frequently unstable URLs.

Collection: 5,064 indexed journals

Other Services: JURN has a browser add-on called UserScript. This add-on allows users to integrate the JURN database directly into Google Search. When performing a search through Google, the add-on creates a link that sends the search directly to JURN CSE. JURN CSE is a search service that is hosted by Google.

Clicking the link from the Google Search bar will run your search through the JURN database from the Google homepage. There is also an interface for a DuckDuckGo search box; while this search engine has an emphasis on user privacy, for smaller sites that may be indexed by JURN, DuckDuckGo may not provide the same depth of results.

Advanced Search Options:  Google search modifiers

Dryad is a digital repository of curated, OA scientific research data. Launched in 2009, it is run by a not-for-profit membership organization, with a community of institutional and publisher members for whom their services have been designed. Members include institutions such as Stanford, UCLA, and Yale, as well as publishers like Oxford University Press and Wiley.

Dryad aims to "promote a world where research data is openly available, integrated with the scholarly literature, and routinely reused to create knowledge." It is free to access for the search and discovery of data. Their user experience is geared toward easy self-depositing, supports Creative Commons licensing, and provides DOIs for all their content.

Note that there is a publishing charge associated if you wish to publish your data in Dryad. When searching datasets, they are accompanied by author information and abstracts for the associated studies, and citation information is provided for easy attribution.

Collection: 44,458

Advanced Search Options: No

Run by the British Library, the E-Theses Online Service (EThOS) allows you to search over 500,000 doctoral theses in a variety of disciplines. All of the doctoral theses available on EThOS have been awarded by higher education institutions in the United Kingdom.

Although some full texts are behind paywalls, you can limit your search to items available for immediate download, either directly through EThOS or through an institution's website. More than half of the records in the database provide access to full-text theses.

EThOS notes that they do not hold all records for all institutions, but they strive to index as many doctoral theses as possible, and the database is constantly expanding, with approximately 3,000 new records added and 2,000 new full-text theses available every month. The availability of full-text theses is dependent on multiple factors, including their availability in the institutional repository and the level of repository development.

Collection: 500,000+

Advanced Search Options:  Abstract, author's first name, author's last name, awarding body, current institution, EThOS ID, year, language, qualifications, research supervisor, sponsor/funder, keyword, title

PubMed is a research platform well-known in the fields of science and medicine. It was created and developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It has been available since 1996 and offers access to "more than 33 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books."

While PubMed does not provide full-text articles directly, and many full-text articles may be behind paywalls or require subscriptions to access them, when articles are available from free sources, such as through PubMed Central (PMC), those links are provided with the citations and abstracts that PubMed does provide.

PMC, which was established in 2000 by the NLM, is a free full-text archive that includes more than 6,000,000 records. PubMed records link directly to corresponding PMC results. PMC content is provided by publishers and other content owners, digitization projects, and authors directly.

Collection: 33,000,000+

Advanced Search Options: Author's first name, author's last name, identifier, corporation, date completed, date created, date entered, date modified, date published, MeSH, book, conflict of interest statement, EC/RN number, editor, filter, grant number, page number, pharmacological action, volume, publication type, publisher, secondary source ID, text, title, abstract, transliterated title

20. Semantic Scholar

A unique and easy-to-use resource, Semantic Scholar defines itself not just as a research database but also as a "search and discovery tool." Semantic Scholar harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to efficiently sort through millions of science-related papers based on your search terms.

Through this singular application of machine learning, Semantic Scholar expands search results to include topic overviews based on your search terms, with the option to create an alert for or further explore the topic. It also provides links to related topics.

In addition, search results produce "TLDR" summaries in order to provide concise overviews of articles and enhance your research by helping you to navigate quickly and easily through the available literature to find the most relevant information. According to the site, although some articles are behind paywalls, "the data [they] have for those articles is limited," so you can expect to receive mostly full-text results.

Collection: 203,379,033

Other Services: Semantic Scholar supports multiple popular browsers. Content can be accessed through both mobile and desktop versions of Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Opera.

Additionally, Semantic Scholar provides browser extensions for both Chrome and Firefox, so AI-powered scholarly search results are never more than a click away. The mobile interface includes an option for Semantic Swipe, a new way of interacting with your research results.

There are also beta features that can be accessed as part of the Beta Program, which will provide you with features that are being actively developed and require user feedback for further improvement.

Advanced Search Options: Field of study, date range, publication type, author, journal, conference, PDF

Zenodo, powered by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), was launched in 2013. Taking its name from Zenodotus, the first librarian of the ancient library of Alexandria, Zenodo is a tool "built and developed by researchers, to ensure that everyone can join in open science." Zenodo accepts all research from every discipline in any file format.

However, Zenodo also curates uploads and promotes peer-reviewed material that is available through OA. A DOI is assigned to everything that is uploaded to Zenodo, making research easily findable and citable. You can sort by keyword, title, journal, and more and download OA documents directly from the site.

While there are closed access and restricted access items in the database, the vast majority of research is OA material. Search results can be filtered by access type, making it easy to view the free articles available in the database.

Collection: 2,220,000+

Advanced Search Options:  Access, file type, keywords

Check out our roundup of free research databases as a handy one-page PDF.

How to find peer-reviewed articles.

There are a lot of free scholarly articles available from various sources. The internet is a big place. So how do you go about finding peer-reviewed articles when conducting your research? It's important to make sure you are using reputable sources.

The first source of the article is the person or people who wrote it. Checking out the author can give you some initial insight into how much you can trust what you’re reading. Looking into the publication information of your sources can also indicate whether the article is reliable.

Aspects of the article, such as subject and audience, tone, and format, are other things you can look at when evaluating whether the article you're using is valid, reputable, peer-reviewed material. So, let's break that down into various components so you can assess your research to ensure that you're using quality articles and conducting solid research.

Check the Author

Peer-reviewed articles are written by experts or scholars with experience in the field or discipline they're writing about. The research in a peer-reviewed article has to pass a rigorous evaluation process, so it’s a foregone conclusion that the author(s) of a peer-reviewed article should have experience or training related to that research.

When evaluating an article, take a look at the author’s information. What credentials does the author have to indicate that their research has scholarly weight behind it? Finding out what type of degree the author has—and what that degree is in—can provide insight into what kind of authority the author is on the subject.

Something else that might lend credence to the author’s scholarly role is their professional affiliation. A look at what organization or institution they are affiliated with can tell you a lot about their experience or expertise. Where were they trained, and who is verifying their research?

Identify Subject and Audience

The ultimate goal of a study is to answer a question. Scholarly articles are also written for scholarly audiences, especially articles that have gone through the peer review process. This means that the author is trying to reach experts, researchers, academics, and students in the field or topic the research is based on.

Think about the question the author is trying to answer by conducting this research, why, and for whom. What is the subject of the article? What question has it set out to answer? What is the purpose of finding the information? Is the purpose of the article of importance to other scholars? Is it original content?

Research should also be approached analytically. Is the methodology sound? Is the author using an analytical approach to evaluate the data that they have obtained? Are the conclusions they've reached substantiated by their data and analysis? Answering these questions can reveal a lot about the article’s validity.

Format Matters

Reliable articles from peer-reviewed sources have certain format elements to be aware of. The first is an abstract. An abstract is a short summary or overview of the article. Does the article have an abstract? It's unlikely that you're reading a peer-reviewed article if it doesn’t. Peer-reviewed journals will also have a word count range. If an article seems far too short or incredibly long, that may be reason to doubt it.

Another feature of reliable articles is the sections the information is divided into. Peer-reviewed research articles will have clear, concise sections that appropriately organize the information. This might include a literature review, methodology, and results in the case of research articles and a conclusion.

One of the most important sections is the references or bibliography. This is where the researcher lists all the sources of their information. A peer-reviewed source will have a comprehensive reference section.

An article that has been written to reach an academic community will have an academic tone. The language that is used, and the way this language is used, is important to consider. If the article is riddled with grammatical errors, confusing syntax, and casual language, it almost definitely didn't make it through the peer review process.

Also consider the use of terminology. Every discipline is going to have standard terminology or jargon that can be used and understood by other academics in the discipline. The language in a peer-reviewed article is going to reflect that.

If the author is going out of their way to explain simple terms, or terms that are standard to the field or discipline, it's unlikely that the article has been peer reviewed, as this is something that the author would be asked to address during the review process.

Publication

The source of the article will be a very good indicator of the likelihood that it was peer reviewed. Where was the article published? Was it published alongside other academic articles in the same discipline? Is it a legitimate and reputable scholarly publication?

A trade publication or newspaper might be legitimate or reputable, but it is not a scholarly source, and it will not have been subject to the peer review process. Scholarly journals are the best resource for peer-reviewed articles, but it's important to remember that not all scholarly journals are peer reviewed.

It’s helpful to look at a scholarly source’s website, as peer-reviewed journals will have a clear indication of the peer review process. University libraries, institutional repositories, and reliable databases (and you now might have a list of some legit ones) can also help provide insight into whether an article comes from a peer-reviewed journal.

Common Research Mistakes to Avoid

Research is a lot of work. Even with high standards and good intentions, it’s easy to make mistakes. Perhaps you searched for access to scientific journals for free and found the perfect peer-reviewed sources, but you forgot to document everything, and your references are a mess. Or, you only searched for free online articles and missed out on a ground-breaking study that was behind a paywall.

Whether your research is for a degree or to get published or to satisfy your own inquisitive nature, or all of the above, you want all that work to produce quality results. You want your research to be thorough and accurate.

To have any hope of contributing to the literature on your research topic, your results need to be high quality. You might not be able to avoid every potential mistake, but here are some that are both common and easy to avoid.

Sticking to One Source

One of the hallmarks of good research is a healthy reference section. Using a variety of sources gives you a better answer to your question. Even if all of the literature is in agreement, looking at various aspects of the topic may provide you with an entirely different picture than you would have if you looked at your research question from only one angle.

Not Documenting Every Fact

As you conduct your research, do yourself a favor and write everything down. Everything you include in your paper or article that you got from another source is going to need to be added to your references and cited.

It's important, especially if your aim is to conduct ethical, high-quality research, that all of your research has proper attribution. If you don't document as you go, you could end up making a lot of work for yourself if the information you don’t write down is something that later, as you write your paper, you really need.

Using Outdated Materials

Academia is an ever-changing landscape. What was true in your academic discipline or area of research ten years ago may have since been disproven. If fifteen studies have come out since the article that you're using was published, it's more than a little likely that you're going to be basing your research on flawed or dated information.

If the information you're basing your research on isn’t as up-to-date as possible, your research won't be of quality or able to stand up to any amount of scrutiny. You don’t want all of your hard work to be for naught.

Relying Solely on Open Access Journals

OA is a great resource for conducting academic research. There are high-quality journal articles available through OA, and that can be very helpful for your research. But, just because you have access to free articles, that doesn't mean that there's nothing to be found behind a paywall.

Just as dismissing high-quality peer-reviewed articles because they are OA would be limiting, not exploring any paid content at all is equally short-sighted. If you're seeking to conduct thorough and comprehensive research, exploring all of your options for quality sources is going to be to your benefit.

Digging Too Deep or Not Deep Enough

Research is an art form, and it involves a delicate balance of information. If you conduct your research using only broad search terms, you won't be able to answer your research question well, or you'll find that your research provides information that is closely related to your topic but, ultimately, your findings are vague and unsubstantiated.

On the other hand, if you delve deeply into your research topic with specific searches and turn up too many sources, you might have a lot of information that is adjacent to your topic but without focus and perhaps not entirely relevant. It's important to answer your research question concisely but thoroughly.

Different Types of Scholarly Articles

Different types of scholarly articles have different purposes. An original research article, also called an empirical article, is the product of a study or an experiment. This type of article seeks to answer a question or fill a gap in the existing literature.

Research articles will have a methodology, results, and a discussion of the findings of the experiment or research and typically a conclusion.

Review articles overview the current literature and research and provide a summary of what the existing research indicates or has concluded. This type of study will have a section for the literature review, as well as a discussion of the findings of that review. Review articles will have a particularly extensive reference or bibliography section.

Theoretical articles draw on existing literature to create new theories or conclusions, or look at current theories from a different perspective, to contribute to the foundational knowledge of the field of study.

10 Tips for Navigating Journal Databases

Use the right academic journal database for your search, be that interdisciplinary or specific to your field. Or both!

If it’s an option, set the search results to return only peer-reviewed sources.

Start by using search terms that are relevant to your topic without being overly specific.

Try synonyms, especially if your keywords aren’t returning the desired results.

Even if you’ve found some good articles, try searching using different terms.

Explore the advanced search features of the database(s).

Learn to use Booleans (AND, OR, NOT) to expand or narrow your results.

Once you’ve gotten some good results from a more general search, try narrowing your search.

Read through abstracts when trying to find articles relevant to your research.

Keep track of your research and use citation tools. It’ll make life easier when it comes time to compile your references.

7 Frequently Asked Questions

1. how do i get articles for free.

Free articles can be found through free online academic journals, OA databases, or other databases that include OA journals and articles. These resources allow you to access free papers online so you can conduct your research without getting stuck behind a paywall.

Academics don’t receive payment for the articles they contribute to journals. There are often, in fact, publication fees that scholars pay in order to publish. This is one of the funding structures that allows OA journals to provide free content so that you don’t have to pay fees or subscription costs to access journal articles.

2. How Do I Find Journal Articles?

Journal articles can be found in databases and institutional repositories that can be accessed at university libraries. However, online research databases that contain OA articles are the best resource for getting free access to journal articles that are available online.

Peer-reviewed journal articles are the best to use for academic research, and there are a number of databases where you can find peer-reviewed OA journal articles. Once you've found a useful article, you can look through the references for the articles the author used to conduct their research, and you can then search online databases for those articles, too.

3. How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?

Peer-reviewed articles can be found in reputable scholarly peer-reviewed journals. High-quality journals and journal articles can be found online using academic search engines and free research databases. These resources are excellent for finding OA articles, including peer-reviewed articles.

OA articles are articles that can be accessed for free. While some scholarly search engines and databases include articles that aren't peer reviewed, there are also some that provide only peer-reviewed articles, and databases that include non-peer-reviewed articles often have advanced search features that enable you to select “peer review only.” The database will return results that are exclusively peer-reviewed content.

4. What Are Research Databases?

A research database is a list of journals, articles, datasets, and/or abstracts that allows you to easily search for scholarly and academic resources and conduct research online. There are databases that are interdisciplinary and cover a variety of topics.

For example, Paperity might be a great resource for a chemist as well as a linguist, and there are databases that are more specific to a certain field. So, while ERIC might be one of the best educational databases available for OA content, it's not going to be one of the best databases for finding research in the field of microbiology.

5. How Do I Find Scholarly Articles for Specific Fields?

There are interdisciplinary research databases that provide articles in a variety of fields, as well as research databases that provide articles that cater to specific disciplines. Additionally, a journal repository or index can be a helpful resource for finding articles in a specific field.

When searching an interdisciplinary database, there are frequently advanced search features that allow you to narrow the search results down so that they are specific to your field. Selecting “psychology” in the advanced search features will return psychology journal articles in your search results. You can also try databases that are specific to your field.

If you're searching for law journal articles, many law reviews are OA. If you don’t know of any databases specific to history, visiting a journal repository or index and searching “history academic journals” can return a list of journals specific to history and provide you with a place to begin your research.

6. Are Peer-Reviewed Articles Really More Legitimate?

The short answer is yes, peer-reviewed articles are more legitimate resources for academic research. The peer review process provides legitimacy, as it is a rigorous review of the content of an article that is performed by scholars and academics who are experts in their field of study. The review provides an evaluation of the quality and credibility of the article.

Non-peer-reviewed articles are not subject to a review process and do not undergo the same level of scrutiny. This means that non-peer-reviewed articles are unlikely, or at least not as likely, to meet the same standards that peer-reviewed articles do.

7. Are Free Article Directories Legitimate?

Yes! As with anything, some databases are going to be better for certain requirements than others. But, a scholarly article database being free is not a reason in itself to question its legitimacy.

Free scholarly article databases can provide access to abstracts, scholarly article websites, journal repositories, and high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles. The internet has a lot of information, and it's often challenging to figure out what information is reliable. 

Research databases and article directories are great resources to help you conduct your research. Our list of the best research paper websites is sure to provide you with sources that are totally legit.

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15 Best Websites to Download Research Papers for Free

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Is your thirst for knowledge limited by expensive subscriptions? Explore the best websites to download research papers for free and expand your academic reach.

Today, navigating through the academic terrain often feels like being stuck in an intellectual desert, parched for knowledge.

With paywalls acting like impenetrable fortresses, accessing scholarly articles becomes a herculean task. However, a beacon of hope exists in the form of free-access platforms, quenching our thirst for intellectual wisdom. Let’s set sail on this scholarly journey.

Table of Contents

Do you recall the Z Library, a once-prominent source of free academic resources? While its seizure by the FBI was a stark reminder of copyright considerations, it also marked a transformative phase in the digital academic landscape. 

Today’s champions of academia aren’t just about offering free access, they uphold ethics and copyright respectability. Let’s delve into these repositories that are reshaping the academia world. You can download free research papers from any of the following websites.

Best Websites to Download Research Papers

#1. sci-hub – best for accessing paywalled academic papers.

• Unlocks millions of academic articles
• Known as the ‘Robin Hood’ of research
• Free and easy to use

Sci-Hub is the defiant maverick of the academic sphere. Often termed the “Pirate Bay of Science,” it presents an unconventional solution to the paywall barrier, freely providing access to a vast range of scholarly literature.

What are the benefits of Sci-Hub?

• Unlimited Access: Unlocks paywalled research papers
• Extensive Database: Hosts a wide variety of academic disciplines
• User-friendly: Features a simple interface and easy navigation

Despite its contentious standing, Sci-Hub offers an invaluable service to knowledge-seekers. While navigating the tightrope between access and legality, it represents a game-changing force in the world of academic research.

Source: https://www.sci-hub.se

#2. Library Genesis (Libgen) – Best for a Wide Range of Books and Articles

• Houses a comprehensive collection of books and articles
• Allows downloading in various formats
• Free and efficient

If the pursuit of knowledge was a grand voyage, Library Genesis, or Libgen, would undoubtedly be your trusty compass and map. Like the vast sea brimming with hidden treasures, Libgen is an expansive library with riches ranging from academic papers to rare textbooks, and even popular fiction. 

It’s not just a repository, but a vibrant confluence of multiple disciplines and interests, catering to the unique intellectual appetite of each knowledge seeker.

What are the benefits of Libgen?

• Multidisciplinary: Holds resources for a vast array of subjects
• Diverse Content: Offers not just articles but also books, textbooks, and fiction
• Format Freedom: Allows content download in various formats

Libgen, with its remarkable expanse and variety, is the academic equivalent of a treasure trove. It’s a one-stop destination for researchers and readers, making it an invaluable ally in the quest for knowledge.

Source: https://libgen.is

#3. Unpaywall – Best for Legal Open Access Versions of Scholarly Articles

• Provides legal access to millions of academic articles
• Fast and user-friendly
• Free and ethically sound

Unpaywall is the stately knight of the academic world. Upholding the banner of ethics, it gallantly charges through the battlefield of paywalls, breaking barriers and making scholarly literature accessible.

Unpaywall doesn’t just give you a key; it gives you a legal, ethically sound key to the treasure chest of academic wisdom. This website is not merely a tool; it’s a testament to the idea that knowledge should be accessible to all, without compromising on legality and respect for authorship.

What are the benefits of Unpaywall?

• Legal Access: Enables legitimate access to research papers
• Wide Reach: Features an extensive, continuously updated database
• Cost-free: All services are available without any charges

For those who believe in the harmony of free access and ethical consideration, Unpaywall is a guiding star. It reflects an ideal blend of accessibility, legality, and respect for intellectual property.

Source: https://unpaywall.org

#4. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) – Best for Peer-Reviewed Open Access Journals

• Repository of high-quality, open-access, peer-reviewed journals
• Covers all subjects and many languages
• Free to use

DOAJ is one of the most popular open access repositories that offers peer-reviewed, open-access journals across numerous subjects and languages. More than just a tool, DOAJ symbolizes the collaborative ethos of academia, fostering a global exchange of knowledge with no entry ticket.

What are the benefits of DOAJ?

• High Quality: Ensures all listed journals are peer-reviewed for quality assurance
• Wide Range: Features journals covering numerous subjects and languages
• Free Access: No cost attached to access these resources

The DOAJ, in its essence, manifests the democratic spirit of academic research. It’s an indispensable platform for researchers seeking high-quality, peer-reviewed, open-access resources across a wide range of subjects.

Source: https://doaj.org

You might also like:

• How To Use LaTeX Packages With Examples
• 15 Best Academic Journal Discovery Platforms
• Sci Hub Review 
• 11 Best Academic Writing Tools For Researchers

#5. Open Access Button – Best for Free Versions of Paywalled Articles

• Finds legal free versions of paywalled articles
• Fast, simple, and reliable
• Free and respects copyright laws

Just like the rush of adrenaline you feel when you find a forgotten $20 bill in your old jeans, Open Access Button brings the same excitement to the academic sphere. 

It is your trusty detective, sniffing out legal, freely accessible versions of those pesky paywalled articles. More than just a tool, it represents an ethical, innovative solution to the widespread issue of paywall barricades in academic research.

What are the benefits of Open Access Button?

• Legal & Free Access: Hunts for legal, open versions of paywalled research papers
• User-friendly: Easy to use with swift results
• Ethical: Respects and upholds copyright laws

Open Access Button serves as the ethical bridge between knowledge seekers and the scholarly content they need. Its commitment to providing free, legal access upholds the values of respect and fairness in academia.

Source: https://openaccessbutton.org

#6. Science Open – Best for a Wide Variety of Open Access Scientific Research

• Features over 60 million articles
• Facilitates academic networking and discussion
• Free and comprehensive

Consider Science Open as a bustling town square in the city of scientific knowledge, where scholars from all walks of life gather, discuss, and dissect over 60 million articles. 

It’s not just like the best university libraries, it’s a collaborative arena for scientists, researchers, and curious minds alike. By fostering open discussions and peer reviews, it not only disseminates information but also nourishes a robust, global scientific community.

What are the benefits of Science Open?

• Vast Library: Provides access to over 60 million research items
• Collaborative Platform: Encourages networking, discussion, and public peer review
• Comprehensive: Covers a wide array of scientific disciplines

Science Open is more than a tool; it’s a community fostering open scientific discourse. Its vast resources and collaborative platform make it a vital player in modern scientific research.

Source: https://www.scienceopen.com

#7. CORE – Best for Open Access Content Across Disciplines

• Harvests research papers from repositories worldwide
• Features millions of open access articles

CORE is like a skilled artisan, meticulously crafting a vast tapestry of open-access content across various disciplines. By aggregating data from repositories worldwide, it weaves together a rich, comprehensive picture of global research. 

This tool doesn’t merely provide access; it delivers an integrated research experience that pushes the frontiers of academia and knowledge exploration.

What are the benefits of CORE?

• Wide Coverage: Harvests data from global repositories, providing extensive coverage
• Open Access: Features millions of open access research papers
• User-friendly: Simple, efficient interface for seamless navigation

With its unparalleled aggregation and comprehensive access, CORE embodies the grand orchestra of global research. It stands as an essential tool in the modern researcher’s toolkit.

Source: https://core.ac.uk

#8. ERIC – Best for Education Research

• Specialized in education research literature
• Offers a wide range of resources, including articles, reports, and studies
• Free and tailored for educators and researchers

Like an esteemed professor, ERIC curates and presents a wealth of scholarly resources for educators, policymakers, and researchers. It serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path to evidence-based practices and enriching the field of education.

What are the benefits of ERIC?

• Focus on Education: Offers a specialized collection of education research literature
• Comprehensive Resources: Includes articles, reports, studies, and more
• Tailored for Educators: Provides valuable insights and tools specifically for educators and researchers

ERIC stands as a pillar in the realm of education research, equipping educators with the knowledge and evidence they need to drive innovation and improve educational practices.

Source: https://eric.ed.gov

#9. PaperPanda – Best for Free Access to Research Papers

• Provides free access to research papers across multiple disciplines
• Offers convenient search and download options
• Free and user-friendly

PaperPanda is always there to assist you in your quest for knowledge. With its vast collection of research papers spanning various disciplines, PaperPanda ensures that you have the resources you need right at your fingertips. 

It’s like having a personal research assistant, guiding you through the maze of scholarly literature.

What are the benefits of PaperPanda?

• Wide Range of Disciplines: Offers research papers across multiple fields of study
• Easy Search and Download: Provides convenient search and download options
• User-Friendly Interface: Makes the research process smooth and accessible

PaperPanda, with its user-friendly approach and expansive collection, simplifies the journey of accessing research papers. It empowers researchers and knowledge enthusiasts by putting a world of information within reach.

Source: https://paperpanda.app

#10. Citationsy Archives – Best for Research Papers from Numerous Fields

• Curates a vast collection of research papers
• Offers easy-to-use citation and bibliography management tools

As you navigate through the vast corridors of this digital library, you’ll discover a wealth of academic resources from diverse fields. 

Citationsy Archives provides access to valuable research papers. It also equips you with powerful citation and bibliography management tools, ensuring that your scholarly journey remains organized and efficient.

What are the benefits of Citationsy?

• Extensive Collection: Curates a wide variety of research papers from numerous fields
• Citation Management: Offers user-friendly tools for organizing citations and creating bibliographies
• Comprehensive Support: Helps researchers streamline their academic workflow

Citationsy Archives serves as a haven for researchers seeking a comprehensive collection of research papers. Its integrated citation and bibliography management tools make it an indispensable companion in the scholarly pursuit.

Source: https://citationsy.com

#11. OA.mg – Best for Direct Download Links to Open Access Papers

• Provides direct download links to open access papers
• Offers a straightforward, no-frills interface

OA.mg presents a no-nonsense approach to providing direct download links to scholarly articles, ensuring that you have immediate access to the knowledge you seek. With its simplicity and efficiency, OA.mg streamlines the process of finding and accessing open access papers.

What are the benefits of OA.mg?

• Direct Download Links: Offers quick access to open access papers without unnecessary hurdles
• Simplicity: Features a straightforward interface for effortless navigation
• Efficient Access: Saves time by bypassing intermediary steps in accessing research papers

OA.mg stands as a reliable conduit between knowledge seekers and open access papers. Its focus on direct download links enhances the efficiency of accessing scholarly resources.

Source: https://oa.mg

#12. Social Science Research Network (SSRN) – Best for Social Sciences and Humanities Research

• Specializes in social sciences and humanities research
• Hosts a vast collection of scholarly papers, working papers, and preprints
• Free and tailored for researchers in these fields

This digital haven caters to the intellectual curiosity of scholars in these fields, providing access to a wealth of scholarly papers, working papers, and preprints.

SSRN fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing, creating a vibrant community at the forefront of social sciences and humanities research.

What are the benefits of SSRN?

• Specialized Content: Focuses on social sciences and humanities research
• Diverse Collection: Offers scholarly papers, working papers, and preprints
• Research Community: Facilitates collaboration and knowledge-sharing among researchers

SSRN serves as an invaluable resource for researchers in the social sciences and humanities, fostering a community that drives innovation and advancements in these fields.

Source: https://www.ssrn.com

#13. Project Gutenberg – Best for Free Access to eBooks

• Houses a vast collection of free eBooks
• Covers a wide range of subjects and genres
• Free and easily accessible

Project Gutenberg is a paradise for book lovers and knowledge enthusiasts. This impressive collection of free eBooks spans various subjects and genres, from classic literature to scientific works. 

Project Gutenberg opens the doors to a world of literary exploration, providing access to timeless wisdom and captivating stories that shape our intellectual landscape.

What are the benefits of Project Gutenberg?

• Extensive eBook Collection: Offers a vast selection of free eBooks
• Diverse Subjects and Genres: Covers a wide range of topics and literary genres
• Free and Accessible: Provides easy access to literary works without any cost

Project Gutenberg serves as a testament to the power of literature and the accessibility of knowledge. It enables readers worldwide to embark on intellectual journeys through its extensive collection of free eBooks.

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org

#14. PLOS (Public Library of Science) – Best for Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research

• Publishes open access scientific and medical research
• Features high-quality, peer-reviewed articles
• Free and promotes global scientific collaboration

As a leading publisher of open access research, PLOS fosters the dissemination of cutting-edge scientific discoveries to a global audience. 

With a commitment to quality and peer-reviewed excellence, PLOS supports the collaborative spirit of scientific advancement, empowering researchers and scientists to share their findings freely.

What are the benefits of PLOS?

• Open Access Publications: Provides free access to high-quality scientific and medical research
• Peer-Reviewed Excellence: Ensures rigorous peer review for published articles
• Global Scientific Collaboration: Facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration among researchers worldwide

PLOS stands at the forefront of the open access movement, promoting the free flow of scientific and medical knowledge. It represents the spirit of collaboration and transparency, empowering researchers to push the boundaries of human understanding.

Source: https://plos.org

#15. arXiv.org – Best for Preprints in Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science

• Specializes in hosting preprints in science, mathematics, and computer science
• Provides early access to cutting-edge research
• Free and fosters collaboration among researchers

arXiv.org is the epicenter of preprints in science, mathematics, and computer science. This virtual haven serves as an incubator for innovative ideas, granting researchers early access to the latest findings and nurturing collaboration within these rapidly evolving disciplines.

What are the benefits of arXiv?

• Cutting-Edge Research: Provides access to preprints, allowing early exploration of groundbreaking ideas
• Interdisciplinary Reach: Spans science, mathematics, and computer science, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration
• Global Knowledge Exchange: Encourages the sharing of research findings and facilitates collaboration among researchers worldwide

arXiv.org stands as a catalyst for scientific progress, offering a glimpse into the future of research. By providing early access to preprints, it fuels innovation, collaboration, and the acceleration of knowledge in science, mathematics, and computer science.

Source: https://arxiv.org

In a world where knowledge is king, accessing a research paper shouldn’t feel like an impossible task. Thanks to these free and innovative websites, we can escape the barriers of paywalls and dive into a vast ocean of intellectual wealth. 

From the rebellious spirit of Sci-Hub to the collaborative nature of PLOS, these digital champions are reshaping the academic landscape.

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Dramatically improve the way you discover, organize, read, annotate, share, and cite. We have reference management down to a science, so you can focus on what matters most.

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Use tags, labels, lists, ratings, smart collections, and watch folders to keep everything sorted and accessible as your libraries grow.

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Our enhanced reading environment connects to a searchable database of over 130 million articles offering recommended related resources while contextualizing your research with citation, retraction and Altmetric data.

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Streamline how you and your research colleagues work to keep you in sync and one step ahead.

Shared Libraries Private shared libraries perfect for remote teams, lab collaborations, journal club, or jointly writing that upcoming manuscript.

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Dynamically annotate and cite from a single source.

Eliminate the strain of sifting through notes disconnected from your references with direct access to supplemental files and ultimately how you’ll cite your sources.

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Highlight, underline, strike through, make inline annotations, draw and add sticky notes.

Easily access references within your libraries or through our built in search engine, SmartCite. Dynamically generate a bibliography using one of over 9000+ citation styles - including the ability to create your own.

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Have an exemplary literature review.

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The AI-powered article summarizer

Best tools for screening and reading research papers

There’s a huge amount of relevant and high-quality research on any given subject, but researchers simply don’t have the time to absorb it all.

It’s not just a question of discovering the best information, it’s understanding and applying it that matters. The risk is that important findings that could support new studies are being missed.

To put this into context: there were more than 3 million articles published in 2018. And the problem isn’t limited to published research.  The number of preprint servers – which are increasingly becoming an important resource for researchers – have grown by over 300% since 2015. Researchers typically spend 45 minutes reading a paper. And the average researcher reads around 250 papers a year. Trying to narrow down the literature that’s going to be most useful to you and then digesting all of that information are now tasks that are almost impossible without the help of technology.

So, we’ve pulled together a short review of some of the most useful tools out there for searching and screening research papers. All of the tools presented here are either open-source (free to use and with open-licensed source code) and/or open-access (free to use).

Tools to build a repeatable search strategy

At the heart of 2Dsearch is a graphical editor which lets you formulate search strategies using a visual framework where concepts are expressed as objects on a two-dimensional canvas. Search terms can be combined using Boolean operators into groups which can be expanded or collapsed to facilitate transparency and readability. This gives a more intuitive approach to search strategy development and validation.

2Dsearch consists of a query canvas and a search results pane, as shown below:

The application can take an existing search strategy and turn it into a visual structure. Take the following example:

((telemedicine |telehealth |”Internet based”|telecare|”web based”|”mobile phone”|telemedical|videoconferencing|”text messaging”|”e mail”|telephone|”cell Phone”|pda|”e health”)(diabetes|diabetic|insulin))| Telediabetes

Although relatively simple, this query is still difficult to interpret, optimise or debug. However, when opened with 2Dsearch, its structure becomes much more transparent:

You can also use its automated search suggestions to identify and include related concepts:

2Dsearch also provides support for automated translation to the syntax of other databases. For example, if you select the Query tab on the result pane, you’ll see our original query expressed as a Boolean string, along with a number of automated translations. Search strategies can be shared and exported as traditional Boolean strings.

By offering new ways to for search strategies to be validated, shared and made reproducible, 2Dsearch can help academics search the world’s scientific literature in a systematic manner.

Tools for analysing search results

There’s a growing number of tools available for building and analysing citation networks. Here are just a few of the ones we’ve found to be effective when analysing a collection of articles.

Citation Gecko

Citation Gecko is an easy-to-use online tool that creates focused co-citation networks from seed papers. Seed papers can be added in the following ways:

·      uploading a BibTeX file

·      connecting to your Zotero library

·      connect to your Mendeley library

·      select from search results

As you explore the cited-by and citing relationships, you can select these as new seed nodes to progressively build a citation map of the literature in your field

Similarity network tools make use of pre-built semantic indexes that are based on topic modelling or keyword co-occurrence. This allows semantically or thematically related papers to be clustered together. Search strategies can then be refined in a visual way which may reduce the cognitive load of filtering and reviewing a large number of search results.

Open Knowledge Maps (OKM)

OKM is an easy-to-use online tool that clusters search results according to semantic connections such as topics and keywords, which are automatically extracted from the source documents.

Simply enter search term, choose a source repository (PubMed or BASE), and OKM will generate clusters that allow you to zoom in to explore semantically related papers.

Generated maps are given a persistent, shareable URL, and maps can be embedded on any web page.

OKM helpfully shows which papers are Open Access via the unlocked padlock icon. When you select a paper in a cluster, OKM shows the article metadata and abstract in the margin, with a link to the full text article.

We can imagine a future tool that combines the functionality of Citation Gecko with OKM to show both citation and semantic relationships between papers.

As with Citation Gecko, Iris.ai starts with a seed paper (via a public URL). It differs from other tools in that the input can also be a research question, although this requires a minimum of a 100-word description to be added for context.

Similar to Open Knowledge Maps, Iris then clusters the results by keyword/concept, and as with OKM, it also generates a persistent URL that you can bookmark and share.

You can then drill down into each concept cluster to view semantically related papers. Selecting a paper allows you to then run a new search using that paper as the seed.

Connected Papers

Connected Papers is a new tool that also gives you a more visual overview of an academic field. Add a paper and it will create a graph for you of similar papers on the subject. It lets you build multiple graphs for relevant papers so that over time you can build up a visual understanding of the field you’re interested in, including trends, popular works and dynamics.

Tools for text mining and summarizing articles

Once you have filtered promising papers using the approaches described above, the next step might be to automate extraction of the knowledge they contain, to help give you a greater understanding of their findings and relevance.

GATE (General Architecture for Text Engineering)

The open-source GATE platform allows you to assemble a pipeline of prebuilt text mining components (or build your own) which you can run over a collection of documents. The output can be exported to various formats (XML, CSV) for later analysis.

Some of the benefits of GATE include:

·      no programming ability required to build your own text-mining pipeline

·      comprehensive documentation

·      online and in-person training courses

·      the number and variety of plugins that enhance the out-of-the-box functionality

Unlike GATE, spaCy does require programming skills in Python to use, although there are many tutorials online, including the excellent spaCy documentation at https://spacy.io/usage

sciSpacy is a spaCy plugin that is useful for analysing biomedical papers, particularly for identifying concepts, abbreviations and negations.

For those who don’t want to download, install and learn new software, or don’t want to write their own code, we built Scholarcy . Part of our goal was ‘text mining for the rest of us’: a simple way that anyone could upload a paper, or collection of papers, and return structured information such as keywords, key concepts, section summaries, facts, findings, and bibliographic references. Scholarcy provides a number of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to extract this type information at scale from a collection of research papers, speeding up analysis.

Scholarcy also has a web application which renders the information extracted from a paper as a summary flashcard, that can be saved to a library for review, sharing, annotation and export.

Open Access Article – NPJ

Scholarcy summary flashcard.

Unlike the original PDF, the summary card is responsive, and automatically resizes to fit your current device, so you can keep up to date with research wherever you are.

The card shows the main concepts in the paper, linking them to their definitions in Wikipedia to provide the background knowledge needed to get the most from the article.

The summary flashcard also highlights important facts and findings, as shown here in a summary of the introduction:

Expanded Summary Flashcard with important points highlighted

The study aims and findings are also summarised in the ‘Highlights’ tab, and the figures are extracted and cross-referenced in the text.

Scholarcy Highlights

For more advice and tools to help you read and write research papers, visit our blog .

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Literature review chapter template.

If you’re preparing to write your literature review, our free literature review chapter template is the perfect starting point. In it, we cover each section of the literature review chapter step by step, along with plain-language explanations and examples .

What’s Included: Literature Review Template

This template is structure is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research projects such as dissertations and theses. The template includes the following sections:

• Before you start – essential groundwork to ensure you’re ready
• The introduction section
• The core/body section
• The conclusion /summary
• Extra free resources

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover. We’ve also included practical examples to help you understand exactly what’s required in each section.

The cleanly-formatted Word document is fully editable , so you can use it as-is for your dissertation or thesis, copy over the contents to a fresh document, or convert it to LaTeX.

Frequently Asked Questions

What format is the literature review template (DOC, PDF, PPT, etc.)?

The template is provided in a fully editable MS Word document (.DOCX). You’re welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of literature reviews can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard format for academic literature reviews, which means it will be suitable for the vast majority of academic research projects (especially those within the sciences), whether they are qualitative or quantitative in terms of design.

Keep in mind that the exact requirements for the literature review chapter will vary between universities and degree programs. These are typically minor, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalize your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Master or PhD-level thesis?

This template can be used for a literature review at any level of study. Doctoral-level projects typically require the literature review to be more extensive/comprehensive, but the structure will typically remain the same.

What structural style does this literature review template use?

The template assumes a thematic structure (as opposed to a chronological or methodological structure), as this is the most common approach. However, this is only one dimension of the template, so it will still be useful if you are adopting a different structure.

Do you have an example of a populated template?

We provide a walkthrough of the template and review an example of a high-quality literature research chapter here .

Does this template include the Excel literature catalog?

No, that is a separate template, which you can download for free here . This template is for the write-up of the actual literature review chapter, whereas the catalog is for use during the literature sourcing and sorting phase.

How long should the literature review chapter be?

This depends on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, literature reviews for Masters-level projects are usually 2,000 – 3,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects can reach multiples of this.

Can I share this literature review template with my friends/colleagues? 

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template in its original format (no editing allowed). If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Can Grad Coach help me with my literature review?

Yes, you’re welcome to get in touch with us to discuss our private coaching services , where we can help you work through the literature review chapter (and any other chapters).

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221 Awesome Literary Research Paper Topics To Choose From

Are you looking for the best literary research paper topic or wondering how to choose a topic for a literary research paper? You are at the right place. The hardest part of doing research is getting an ideal topic. Once, you get a great topic you are good to go.

We have a great number of best-rated expert writers that can provide well-done professional papers. As students in college, we understand that high payment rates can be frustrating, that’s why we offer cheap prices for high-quality work. We offer the best help with research papers to get top grades. Browse through this variety of topics to find the best fit for you.

Literature Research Topics

Getting an ideal literature research paper topic can consume a lot of time. In this category, you will get some of the best literature research topics.

• Discuss the American dream in literature.
• How do religion and literature correlate?
• Discuss the “stream of consciousness” style of literature.
• Examine artificial languages in literature.
• How is mythology termed in literature?
• Discuss why Harry Potter became that popular.
• Is it advisable for literature to be gendered?
• Evaluate between utopian and dystopian literature.
• Discuss the work of Shakespeare.
• How can you rate the feminist literature – does it have a ground?
• Evaluate the impact of the work of Shakespeare.
• Can fan fiction be considered an independent part of literature?
• How do clichés work in literature
• How are the Byronic characters in literature?
• Discuss the good and evil of studying literature.
• The literary work during WWI
• Evaluate the portrayal of war and peace by George Orwell.

Interesting Literature Topics

Did you know that there are interesting literature topics? They deal with the evolution of literature and how it has grown till the present time. Thinking of literature topics for research paper is challenging, so here are some more options.

• How can you term irony and sarcasm in literature?
• How can literature be termed as an instrument of propaganda?
• Discuss madness in literature.
• The influence of trickster characters in literature.
• Discuss travel writing in the 20 th century.
• Evaluate narrative nature and verse since 1900.
• How has city living changed since 1900?
• Evaluate literature as part of modern culture.
• How are social issues exposed in literature?
• The relation between literature and psychology.
• The influence of European culture in the Midwest literature.
• The differences between the literature of different countries.
• The effect of European culture on modern literature.
• The impact of feminism on modern culture.
• Evaluate Japanese literature in the 20 th century.

Literature Topics for a Research Paper

In this category, you will get a wide variety of literature topics that you can use for your research. A well-written research paper will help you get top grades.

• What can you term as the cultural production of Latina writers?
• Discuss the representation of Ethics in literature.
• Evaluate the famous work of Ernest Hemingway.
• Expound on the invented languages in literature.
• Why do you think “Harry Potter” has become so popular?
• How is the Image of death represented as a character in literature?
• The impact of literature on kids.
• Is there an appropriate gender in literature?
• Evaluate the Victorian literature.
• Elaborate on the complete work of William Shakespeare.
• Discuss whether fanfiction is independent literature.
• Which are the Byronic characters in literature.
• Elaborate irony versus sarcasm in literature.
• How can literature be used as an instrument of propaganda?

Literature Research Paper Topics

In this category of research paper topics, you get to relate one phenomenon with the other. They are also based on some well-known novels. When thinking of literary topics for research paper, consider your scope of knowledge and interest in the topic.

• The correlation between psychology and literature.
• How is the construction of social identity?
• How can you describe the settler nationhood and the wilderness in North American poetry?
• Why does place matters to a poet?
• Evaluate travel writing in the 20 th century and 21 st century.
• The influence of animals in children’s literature.
• Evaluate the importance of humor in children’s literature.
• Discuss the best children’s novels from 1900.
• How does young adult literature represent disability?
• How to read to under five years old children to develop relationships and imaginations?
• Evaluate the modern novel and psychology.
• Define the cross-disciplinary boundaries between archaeology and English literature.
• Evaluate the 19 th -century novel and science.
• Evaluate how history is important in deciphering modern literature.
• How is philosophy important to literature.

English Literature Research Paper Topics

In English literature, it focuses on how various novels, classics, or books are written to explain a certain phenomenon. Here are some literature topics that you can start with:

• Evaluate the methods of teaching English literature.
• Investigate modern Indian literature in English translation.
• Evaluate women writers and the survey of English literature.
• Investigate the impact of the Bible on English literature.
• Evaluate the impact of the Classics on Literature.
• Define the scope of English literature in Educating people.
• Explain the influence of Darwin on Literature.
• Explain medieval English literature.
• Examine Women studies and Feminism in India.
• Evaluate the short history of the Norton Anthology of the English language.
• Evaluate the English Renaissance study.
• Investigate medieval feminism in middle English Studies.
• Evaluate women in Indian English Literature.
• Discuss feminism and modern Indian literature.
• Discuss the evolution of English in North America.

Topics in Literature

Literature requires full concentration to get to the bottom of a certain phenomenon. We have simplified the topics to make it easier for you to do your assignment in college.

• Discuss Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet based on Male melodrama.
• How as black lives matter movement influenced black literature?
• Evaluate the contemporary refuge literature.
• Investigate post-colonialism and climate change in literature.
• Discuss tradition and modernity through the lens of Tagore Gora.
• Investigate the relation between pre-independence and post-independence in Indian literature.
• The role of African literary responses to Racism.
• The literature on homosexuality.
• The significance of Literature in the modern world.
• Feminism growth in the twentieth century.
• The effects of fairy tales perceptions in the modern era.
• Correlation between pre-independence and post-independence Indian literature.
• Discuss the novel, “To kill a Mockingbird from 1960”.
• The significance of Shakespeare in the world of Literature.
• How did the artistry of writing novels start?
• The character analysis of Emy and Rebecca in Vanity Fair.
• The Depiction of vampires in the 19 th and 21 st -century literature.

Research Topics in English Literature

In this category, there are comparison topics that you can analyze for your research. These are based on well-known books and novels in English.

• Evaluate the diversity of Chaucer’s genres in tales of Canterbury.
• The accuracy of historical novels in the document happenings.
• How has the role of a woman changed in twentieth-century literature?
• What effect does Milton’s paradise lost have on 17 th -century literature?
• How have James Joyce and William Burroughs done their novels?
• What is our modern perspective about 19 th -century novels and the general public and similar perspectives when they were first published?
• Evaluate the less-known work of well-known writers.
• Examine why adults find Lord of the Rings appealing.
• How does the work of Maya Angelou play a role in African literary responses to racism?
• Recognizing the unconscious in modernist literature.
• Evaluate the representation of Hindu and Buddhist thought in Modern Literature.
• The representation of abortion in British Literature.
• Profess poetry in terms of style and faith in Hopkins.
• Evaluate the evolution of literature in the twentieth century.
• Describe the writing nature in the age of chemical countryside.

Literature Topics for Research Papers

These are some of the best literature topics for research papers. They require minimal effort to submit a well-written research paper.

• The roles of gender in modern literature.
• The importance of having animals in children’s literature.
• Analysis of the first world war.
• How accurate is History as described in historical novels?
• The difference between literature in the US and Great Britain.
• Analyze the 19 th -century poetic imagination.
• Examine the 19 th -century poetic imagination based on astronomy.
• How is quantum physics applied in literature?
• What is the most important work written by William Shakespeare?
• The Female masculinities in old English Literature.
• The difference between modernism and realism.
• Critical analysis of First World War poetry.
• The analysis of the meaning of fairy tales in literature.
• The influence on literature during the renaissance era.
• The historical analysis of children’s literature.
• The idea of death in Renaissance literature.
• The historical background of Duma’s novels.

Literary Topics for a Research Paper

Literary topics are diverse. This can make it hectic to choose an appropriate one for your research paper.

• Discuss the most important work of Shakespeare.
• Describe the gothic novel’s gender representation.
• The effect of social media language on learners.
• The travails of the African woman.
• The utilization of language activities in teaching and learning of English Language.
• Discuss women in nation-building and influence on literature.
• The relevance of folktale in the learning of literature.
• The significance of drama and poetry in literature.
• Factors affecting the choice of language in a multilingual society.
• Comparative study of morphological processes in English.
• Comparative study of Achebe’s “Things fall apart”.
• The significance of proverbs in literature.
• The influence of politics in the building of literary texts.
• The analysis of speech in literature.
• The analysis of threat in literature.

Research Topics in Literature

These research topics are based on various societal aspects and impacts on the world. They also deal with people’s emotions and behaviors in different contexts.

• The nativization of English in African literary texts.
• An analysis of the Asian theatre and influence on modern literature.
• The examination of leadership in literature.
• The relevance of literature in the world.
• What is the need to study literature?
• Evaluate the evolution of literature from the start till now.
• Analyze the methods used in creating styles in the literature.
• What are some of the feminist criticism of some selected Feminist works?
• The importance of fiction in literature.
• The relevance of emotion and narration in novel writing in literature.
• Discuss how conflicts are brought out in literary novels.
• What is the effect of language diversity on the development of a country?
• Discuss the relevance of music and revolution.
• The challenges of language on national development.
• What is the communication medium used in literature?

Literature Paper Topics

Here are some of the best literature paper topics that you can use for your research. As long as you narrow down the research topic, getting relevant information will be easy.

• The difference between linguistic and grammatical theories.
• The problems related to tenses in literature.
• The evaluation of word formation in literature.
• The significance of poems in literature.
• The evolution and levels of modern literature.
• The personal happiness versus societal norms in Victorian literature.
• The sentence structure of English literature.
• Does the native language of a person influence adoption of a second language?
• An analysis of problems associated with learning a second language.
• The manifestation of non-standard usage of English among University Students.
• The influence of rituals, music, songs, and dances in literature.
• The poetic language and influence on the expression.
• How can literature be termed as the vehicle for social change?
• The syntactic problems associated with English usage.
• The influence of society on students’ performance in literature.
• Teaching and learning strengths in literature.

American Literature Research Paper Topics

Finding an ideal research paper topic in America’s context can consume a lot of time. Here you will find simplified topics for your research paper.

• Discuss contemporary American Literature.
• The African Realism and influence in Literature.
• How did colonization influence modern literature?
• Define 20 th -century Latin American literature.
• Evaluate African Americans and their fight for equality in American Literature.
• Define realism, naturalism, and modernism in African American literature.
• Evaluate Allen Ginsberg and American Protest literature.
• Examine American literature and society.
• Analyze American literature in Post-World War II.
• American Literature in the 20 th and 21 st century.
• American literature and religious ideologies.
• Anne Bradstreet’s contribution to American Literature.
• The influence of Asian American literature.
• Evaluate the color interpretations in the great Gatsby.
• The common themes in American Literature.

Literature Research Paper Topics for College Students

Are you a college student looking for an ideal literature research paper? Here are some topics for you!

• Provide your understanding of censorship in American Literature.
• Evaluate black American women writers and their influence on the world.
• Architectural imagery in 20 th century African American literature.
• How do characters lose their innocence in literature?
• The different modes of communication in literature.
• The conversation of American Sign Language in literature.
• How are dialects and death shown in literature?
• How does Literature portray American culture?
• How does self-verification occur in African American Literature?
• The generational divide and impact on modern literature.
• The establishment of traditional excellence.
• Explore the modern literature.
• How can you define masculinity in literature?
• The impact of World War I on American literature.
• The significance of African American literature addressing the black experience.
• The male and female characters in Beowulf.
• The relationship between mother and daughter in Beloved.

Literature Review Topics Examples

Do you know how to do a literature review on various topics? Try any of this and see your proficiency in the sector.

• A literature review on rational and rationality.
• A literature review on dependence and development.
• A literature review on resource scarcity in the modern world.
• A literature review on pop culture.
• A literature review on Feminist international relations.
• A literature review on complex organizations and regimes.
• A literature review on censorship in TV shows.
• A literature review on global warming and its influence on mankind.
• Literature review on why children’s books are popular.
• A literature review on how authors choose writing styles.
• The use of artificial language in literature.
• How education affects literature per era.
• The most effective villains in literature.
• How does Shakespeare inspire modern authors?
• Propaganda and literature in the modern world.
• Toni Morrison’s views on the civil way
• The concept of war in the book; a fable by Faulkner.

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Research Papers on English Literature

This section focuses on the literature of English language from any part of the world, not just the England literature. America and Ireland has also produced remarkable literature work in the field of English. English literature has transformed into a global phenomenon. Researchomatic understands the emerging needs of writers to write an innovative research papers. Therefore, our website provides millions of research based papers for your assistance.

Psychoanalysis of Mann’s “Death in Venice”

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PublicLiterature.org

Classic literature, then and now, full selection of writing, book review.

• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 197 – A Model’s Routine by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter VIII by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone
• ALL ROADS LEAD TO HAZARD
• Tips for Paddling Across the Panama Canal in a Canoe
• Global Soccer State
• The Little-Known Muscle
• Striking Out: An Online Serial Comedy
• My novel on the Ellen Degeneres show!
• Marketing Freeze Dried Water
• Beetle Creek – the Prologue (an Aussie yarn)
• Online Books Catalog

Free Writing

• PublicLiterature.org Blog Started
• cantos for mad men(candice nine)
• cantos for mad men(candice eight)
• candice seven
• unseen hands(for Candice)
• Amore (strong language)
• Candice (beauty revisited)
• this kind of place
• nextdoor woman
• hills of bees and wine
• Enchanted Summer
• Gothic Souls
• Dreaming Hydra island
• when the crickets hasitate
• Olympian Ode
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 201 – The Magic Instant
• in the amniotic greek universe(streets,museums)
• Notions of Drowning
• eros anikaten mahan(cannot win eros)
• dark sonata
• sirens in the aegean
• My birth with sea light
• My sentimental Journeys
• Acanthus( lilac)
• A Messy Day by Milou
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 200 – Animal Promiscuity
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 199 – How the City Was Pacified
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 198 – So What Do I Actually Do
• Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho – Issue no. 196 – The Warrior of Light and His Temperament
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 195 – Challenging the Teacher by Paulo Coelho
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 194 – Emotional Independence by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter XII by Paulo Coelho
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 193 – In Search of the Perfect Leader by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter XI by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter X by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone : Ninth Chapter by Paulo Coelho
• Tottenham Court Road
• Bulletproof Vest
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 192 – The Second Chance
• The Winner Stands Alone – Seventh Chapter by Paulo Coelho
• Yellow on the Outside, Shame on the Inside: Asian Culture Revealed
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter VI by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter V by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter IV by Paulo Coelho
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 191 – Heaven and Hell
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter III by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone : Chapter II by Paulo Coelho
• The Winner Stands Alone – 1st Chapter
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 190 – And the Witch Hunt Goes On
• Warrior Of Light: Inventory of normality
• Starting fresh (in 2009)
• Christmas Tale : The music coming from the house
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 186 – Dieting Already
• A Deeper Blue
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 184 – The Sixth Cardinal Virtue: Courage
• Why no Harry Potter or Stephanie Meyer?
• Less Than White
• Scratching Mahogany
• Warrior Of Light online: The fifth cardinal virtue: Justice
• Leopard Print Dress
• Simple as Sarah
• Warrior Of Light – The fourth cardinal virtue: Wisdom
• A Thump on the Head
• A Thousand Points of Darkness
• Big Paws by Milou
• An Excerpt from WALK ME TO MIDNIGHT
• Warrior Of Light – The third cardinal virtue: Love
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 180 – The Second Cardinal Virtue: Hope
• A Night at the 'Well of Purity' by Lloyd Lofthouse
• the man that fell from the porphyry sky
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 179 – The First Cardinal Virtue: Faith
• Setting Your Writing Price Doesn't Always Represent Your Writing's Worth
• dark nights
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• Ceremony of Alpha
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• Bread and Water and Love
• Writing While You Sleep: Harnessing Your Subconscious
• The Man Who Saved Christmas
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• Warrior Of Light: The two drops of oil
• Writing about where you live
• The Warrior of Light and renunciation
• Dinner? by Milou
• The Snake by Milou
• The Unusual Creature by Milou
• It All Began …
• Warrior of Light – Issue no. 173 – The Wheel of Time
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho for free!
• Best-Selling Author Turns Piracy into Profit
• Indie Excellence Book Awards
• Review of "Farewell Alexandria"
• "The Struggle, First Generation" – Introduction
• Quote from Book Two; Amber Shadows and the Crystal Locket
• Chicago Tribunes' Printers Row Festival
• "The act of writing – the reader" by Paulo Coelho
• The Valkyries for free!
• BookSurge – Who Owns "PACIFIC AVENUE" all the way to "BOARDWALK"?
• DREAM LOVER
• The Familiar
• Therapy Session …
• Thank you, President Bush
• Philip Gardiner’s – The Bond Code
• You Love Me
• The Pilgrimage (Complete and Free!)
• FAREWELL ALEXANDRIA
• Birthday Bash Book Brawl
• Give it a Week
• Book Review: A Brother's Journey
• Preview of "Fatal Addiction"
• Why I Write by Rebecca Lerwill
• Soaring Eagle, Spirit of the Wind
• Welcome Paulo Coelho – Bestselling Author
• Excerpt from TRUE BLUE FOREVER
• Excerpt from DIFFERENT ROADS
• May I introduce myself?
• The Murder Of Linen, a novel by Constantine Sult
• Writing Notebooks in Grade 2
• Excerpt from Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands
• Stolen Justice
• Shalom Tower Syndrome (Award finalist in National Best Books 2007,USAbooknews)
• The Invention of the Steam Engine
• Driving on Ice
• When the Clock Got Sick
• Ellen the Eagle Needs Glasses
• Patty the Pigeon
• An Ordinary Mother
• The Great Ping Pong Ball Experiment
• Women helping women… the power of love.
• excerpt from "Journey from Shanghai"
• Sneak Peak – The Shell Game by Steve Alten
• Welcome Steve Alten, NY Times Best Seller
• They Forgot to Plant an Acorn on the Moon

Non-fiction

• The Story of Louis Braille
• Contrary Souls
• Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Goals
• The home of permanent in between
• The Dying Mother
• This is Your Brain When it is Creative
• The Ghostwriter's Booksigning
• Straddling Between Two Worlds
• "Age of Entitlement and Expectation" – Introduction
• Reviews – THE SHORES OF WISDOM, The Story of the Ancient Library of Alexandria
• The Universe – Solved! by Jim Elvidge
• EUGÈNE MARAIS: BABOONS, TERMITES, AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN PSYCHE
• Ending to "Mindless Stupor"
• THE JOURNEY OF THE SOUL
• The Immigrants' Daughter by Mary Terzian
• Stewards of Spirit: Awakening in the Light of Rachel's Ballads
• Intro to "Mindless Stupor"
• CONSIDER THE PARADOXES AND IRONIES OF LIFE
• "Forgive Myself" by Bruce Morse (Chapter 1)
• Directing 'West Side Story"s George Chakiris
• Directing Frank Sinatra Jr. Narrating My Novel
• I'm always asked what my inspiration is for a given play.
• Why I tell the stories I tell…
• Something old, Something new
• Sneak peek of "Italian Lights; Not Stars"
• an excerpt from a play-in-development, FOR SOME REASON COMMA SHE LAUGHED
• Three sides to a Coin
• an abstruct season
• loving(for Candice)
• Meteor Shower
• listening to your wind
• notes on serenity
• speak to me memory
• The Dance of November
• Meet Me There
• Lexis(words).
• In your blue veins where my fictions begun
• Galileo and The Modern Day Woman
• in the land of lystrygones
• tired of being a bullet
• Two Kores ( two girls)
• On audible patterns
• The Quiet Noise
• Stain on a carpet
• Eyes Everywhere
• Hail Mary Pass
• Innocense Lost
• I WRITE TO YOU
• Old Soldier
• Two Corner Windows …
• and then i die into the self of night
• Life Without Chance
• WHEN THE DAWN ARRIVES
• You Suffered More Than You Know … (poetic-prose)
• Beyond Time
• The Eyes Want to See
• My Bridge to Somewhere
• Premonition
• Love of a Poet
• A Predator That Flies Unfettered
• The Silence of the Fall
• The Divine Need
• elephant dream
• god at eleven
• As Though it Were Yesterday
• Today brought carriages running up the boughs of trees
• Intentional Silhouette
• Tinctures of the Existential (poetic-prose)
• The Lost Scent of Orange Blossoms
• A Soothsayer's Rune
• The Gift of Reason
• Poetic Slavery of Language
• Dreaming South
• Tonight looked as the Miramar did
• Judge, not Judge-?
• A Blanket Of White (poetic-prose)
• "Infinite Universe"
• At the End of Williamson Road
• Haiku flu during dinner with Joshu
• Torrid Fates
• Yes, Oyster petals,
• we live together
• Floral Treats
• Four Short Poems
• Does It Matter
• Not For Ladies
• East Coast Sunrise
• Beloved Land…..
• Apology Accepted
• Ollie Ollie Home Free
• Liquid Persuasion
• Poe's Response
• Take Notice
• Rat – a-tat…..
• We Observe…..
• Battlefield, Night
• An Invitation to Dance (A Prayer)
• Unsolicited Thoughts
• Carve our Initials Next
• One Note …
• Sugar – High
• Circle of love….
• Somewhere in "Om"
• Safe Keeping
• A Reflection On Politics
• "Winds of Freedom"
• Puppies Delight….
• Infinite Universe….
• The Painting in the Maple Frame
• Attic Stairwell
• A Poem's Freedom
• A ku for you
• E'er and Evermore …
• Our Children
• L o n e s o m e
• Self-Genesis
• Impasse'
• The Enigmatic Way
• Undeniable Loneliness
• Breathless …
• Scent Of Adoration
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Writing help, paraphrasing tool, from literature to screen: unraveling who wrote shawshank redemption.

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Stephen King’s vivid imagination gave birth to “The Shawshank Redemption,” a film praised for its captivating plot and tremendous empathy. This article examines the evolution of “Shawshank Redemption” from a short tale written by King to its film adaptation by director Frank Darabont, focusing on the collaboration between author and filmmaker that brought this legendary narrative to life.

King’s picture of Shawshank and its people differs from the horror and supernatural themes for which he is well known. Instead, he emphasizes the tenacity of the human spirit and the power of hope. This thematic change demonstrates King’s narrative brilliance, demonstrating his ability to cross genre borders and dive into the intricacies of the human condition.

The novella’s transformation from page to screen started when Frank Darabont, a fan of King’s writing, acquired the rights to adapt it into a screenplay. Darabont approached “Shawshank Redemption” with a thorough awareness of the original material’s intricacies, having previously adapted King’s writing for a short film. His screenplay adaption is astonishingly faithful to King’s original story, retaining its emotional core while making required alterations for the film medium.

Darabont’s directing gave “Shawshank Redemption” a painful realism, capturing the spirit of King’s characters as well as the awful environment of Shawshank. The popularity of the film is due to its ability to adapt the novella’s internal monologues and deep character backstories into fascinating visual narrative. This move from a literary to a visual story requires a careful balance, which Darabont accomplished with grace.

Despite a low box office result, “The Shawshank Redemption” rose in reputation over the years, mostly due to word of mouth and its significant presence on home video and television broadcasts. Its continuing popularity stems from its universal themes of optimism, camaraderie, and the perseverance of the human spirit, which King artfully weaved into his novella and Darabont wonderfully conveyed to the screen.

Finally, “The Shawshank Redemption” is a brilliant example of a successful literary-to-film adaptation. Stephen King’s gripping story laid the groundwork, while Frank Darabont’s cinematic vision and sensitivity to the source material brought it to life on the big screen. The cooperation between King and Darabont, which bridged the worlds of literature and film, resulted in a work that resonated with viewers and critics alike, establishing its position as a literary and cinematic masterpiece. The plot of “The Shawshank Redemption” exemplifies the power of storytelling, regardless of media, and the lasting influence of well-crafted tales on the human heart and mind.

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From Literature to Screen: Unraveling Who Wrote Shawshank Redemption. (2023, Nov 24). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/from-literature-to-screen-unraveling-who-wrote-shawshank-redemption/

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PapersOwl.com. (2023). From Literature to Screen: Unraveling Who Wrote Shawshank Redemption . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/from-literature-to-screen-unraveling-who-wrote-shawshank-redemption/ [Accessed: 24 Nov. 2023]

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"From Literature to Screen: Unraveling Who Wrote Shawshank Redemption," PapersOwl.com , 24-Nov-2023. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/from-literature-to-screen-unraveling-who-wrote-shawshank-redemption/. [Accessed: 24-Nov-2023]

PapersOwl.com. (2023). From Literature to Screen: Unraveling Who Wrote Shawshank Redemption . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/from-literature-to-screen-unraveling-who-wrote-shawshank-redemption/ [Accessed: 24-Nov-2023]

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