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Business/SPEA Library
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Basics of Business Research
Company Research Databases
Below is a list of recommended research databases to get you started in doing research for the ITP assignment. You may need further assistance in investigating your company or locating credible evidence to support your recommendations at later stages. Use the chat widgets in this guide for questions or schedule a research consultation.
News and Article Databases
- Proquest Business
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Provides scholarly, trade, or news articles focused on business. Use these search strategies. - Business Source Complete
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Provides scholarly and trade journal articles focused on business. Use these search strategies. - Factiva
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Provides full-text access to national and international newspapers, trade publications, business newswires, media transcripts, news photos, business-rich websites, investment analyst reports, market research reports, country and regional profiles, company profiles, and historical market data. - Nexis Uni
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Provides access to news articles. Use these search strategies.
- Business DEI GuideUseful for audience analysis and also understanding controversies from media perspectives not often represented in media like the Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg. Check out the Library Resources especially.
Company Analysis and Reports
- MarketLine Advantage
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Company reports with history, SWOT, and key competitors. - Mergent Online
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Database of corporate information covering over 22,000 US and foreign public companies. Includes access to Investext reports written by analysts at investment banks, brokerage houses, and consulting firms. Reports cover financials and analysis on companies and select industries. - Mergent Intellect
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Determine whether your company is public or private or parent or subsidiary. - PrivCo
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Financial information and analysis for private companies. Individual registration with an IU e-mail address required for access.
Consumers and Marketing
- Mintel Reports
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Market research reports covering US and International markets with an emphasis on consumer products and industries. See this video for an overview of this database. - Simmons Insights
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Data on U.S. consumer demographics, attitudes and behaviors, media use, and buying habits - Statista
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Consolidates statistical data on over 80,000 topics from more than 18,000 sources. Includes market research, dossiers, industry reports, and digital market outlooks and forecasts.
Industry Reports and Analysis
- IBISWorld
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Comprehensive industry reports that provide company analysis. - Mergent Intellect
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Dunn & Bradstreet First Research industry reports may be accessed from the homepage of Mergent Intellect. Scroll down and select "First Research." Enter your IU email address to access the reports.
General Library Resources
Use the "Research" tab to find databases by subject/discipline. The Business subject page has a curated list of business databases, or consult the A-Z Database link for a list of all the Indiana University Bloomington subscription databases. These resources must be accessed through the Libraries website or portals like this guide.
- IUCAT This link opens in a new windowSearch for books on your topic owned by the IUB Libraries. Use the Finding Books guide for tips on how to search and use this resource.
- OneSearch@IUSearch across thousands of publications (many will not be retrieved in a Google search!) for background information. Use the Database Search Tips for how to effectively search this resource.
• Business/SPEA Citation Guide
Examples of how to cite business information in both MLA and APA citation formats.