7 Great Open Access Research Databases For HR Professionals

Have you ever wondered how you can stay up to date with the latest advancements in Human Resources Management (and other related fields) without going back to University?

In the field of HRM, it’s not always necessary to return to college to continue learning. If higher education is not an option for you, it’s still important to note that the pursuit of knowledge should always extend beyond personal insights and the opinions of popular workplace influencers. This article aims to guide HR professionals towards credible and up-to-date HRM learning content. It underscores the necessity of diversifying information sources and relying on validated, professional resources to elevate the quality of people management practices.

The Significance of Reliable HR Knowledge

Human Resources Management is a dynamic field in which new knowledge is created every day, and where staying up-to-date with the latest advancements is essential. While personal experiences and influencers may offer insights, their quality and applicability can be questionable. In addition, as HR professionals shift between different organizational contexts and environments, the knowledge gained in one setting may not seamlessly translate to another. Thus, exclusive reliance on these sources can be a risky choice. It’s imperative to understand that learning is a continuous process, necessitating a foundation in rigorously researched insights.

The Scientific Method and HRM

There are professionals in many areas of social sciences, including Human Resources Management, who spend their days at work applying the scientific method, defined by Oxford Reference (2021) as the procedure that science utilizes to gain knowledge. The scientific method consists of making observations, formulating specific theories, and testing hypotheses to verify their validity through experimentation.This process, as well as other mixed research methods, lead researchers to produce trustworthy knowledge. For that reason, it’s important to stay up to date with the work of the scientific community and the findings that concern HRM professionals.

In addition, through science-backed knowledge, we can also discover how others are evaluating certain subjects and processes. This information might be of great use to those who want to carry out specific research projects within organizations, complementing the popular “internal best practices” approach.

It’s important to note that academic research papers are not always accessible free of cost. The work of researchers is valuable and important, and it makes sense for databases to charge a fee to access their knowledge. Independently of that, there still are many open-access sources with thousands of valuable studies and academic dissertations available to the general public online. If your budget is tight, why not take advantage of all that hard work, learn something new, and complement your existing knowledge with some well-researched facts?

Accessing Unrestricted HR Material

To access credible HRM material, you can explore various sources (Proofed, 2019). We reviewed a few to discover if we could find studies on HR topics that we were interested in learning more about, and we were quite satisfied with what we found. Now we’re sharing information on 7 databases we’d recommend:

1. The International Labour Organization

The ILO (2021) is the United Nations agency that collaborates with governments, employers, and workers to establish labor standards, formulate policies, and implement programs aimed at promoting decent work. Given the ILO’s central focus on labor-related matters, its database serves as a valuable resource for HR professionals seeking high-quality content on personnel management. The ILO’s website offers dedicated sections for publications and research, featuring resources such as LabourDoc (the ILO’s institutional repository) and LabourDiscovery (the ILO’s library collection). A search for Human Resources Management on LabourDoc yields 1,383 document results, while LabourDiscovery provides access to an extensive collection of 715,122 documents. Many of these materials are available as full-text open-access resources and provide links to other databases mentioned in this article.

2. Google Scholar

Google Scholar (n.d.) is widely recognized as an effective platform for accessing professional content. This scholarly literature search engine was created to offer a user-friendly means to conduct targeted searches. It encompasses a diverse array of fields, including Human Resource Management (HRM), and incorporates content from articles, books, academic publishers, universities, and various other reputable sources. When searching for “Human Resources Management,” users can expect to discover an extensive collection of pages containing relevant content, which can be further refined using date filters.

3. CORE

CORE (n.d.) positions itself as the world’s largest repository of open-access research papers. Its mission is to provide a global open-access research platform that ensures free and unrestricted accessibility for all (CORE, 2019). This platform gathers research papers sourced from institutional and subject repositories, hybrid and open-access journals, and encompasses all research domains. It currently possesses an impressive collection of over 208 million open-access articles drawn from a network of more than 10,000 data providers worldwide. A straightforward search for “Human Resources Management” yields a total of 19,011,079 academic articles in 19 different languages (CORE, n.d).

4. BASE: The Bielefeld Academic Search Engine

BASE (Bielefeld University Library, 2021) is a specialized German academic web resource search engine. It holds an extensive collection of content, with over 240 million files sourced from more than 8,000 content providers, and is searchable in over 20 languages. In addition, 60% of these full-text documents are freely accessible to the general public. A single search using the keyword “Human Resources Management” generates a substantial result of 25,961 items. This content derives from a variety of sources, including digital collections, journals, institutional repositories, and more. It’s important to note that BASE holds rigorous standards for academic quality and relevance when accepting content on its platform.

5. EThOS: British Library e-theses online service

EThOS, the British Library’s e-theses online service, is the official national repository for doctoral research theses produced in the United Kingdom, as described by Kefford (n.d). It is dedicated to enhancing the visibility and accessibility of these valuable academic works. A substantial portion of the research documents available on this platform has been publicly funded to support students in UK Higher Education Institutions. Consequently, there is a prevailing belief that the knowledge generated through such funding should be openly accessible in full-text format. EThOS holds an extensive collection, comprising 500,000 records and 260,000 full-text documents, originating from more than 120 institutions. It continually expands and updates its content to benefit a wide audience. A general search for “Human Resources Management” yields a noteworthy 1,620 records of doctoral theses.

6. DOAJ: The Directory of Open-Access Journals

The DOAJ (2020), short for The Directory of Open-Access Journals, serves as an autonomous repository housing more than 15,000 peer-reviewed open-access journals, spanning all fields of science, including Human Resource Management within its social science category. Its objective is to enhance the global presence, accessibility, and utilization of research journals. The content featured on this platform is contributed by researchers from 125 different countries, and it is accessible in up to 80 languages, all without charge. When conducting a journal search for “Human Resources Management,” the DOAJ returns 35 results, each containing a collection of articles related to the subject.

7. SSRN: Social Science Research Network

The SSRN, officially known as the Social Science Research Network, under Elsevier (2021), is another notable open-access digital library and preprint community that enjoys a user base of 2.3 million individuals. Its core focus lies in social sciences, encompassing a vast repository of 940,733 research papers spanning over 60 distinct disciplines. The majority of these documents are available for free download. Searching for “Human Resources Management” on SSRN yields a significant result of 1,938 papers, providing a valuable resource for interested learners.

Looking for professional HR content that is a bit more digestible?

At The Humans of HR, our mission is to offer accessible and practical content that draws inspiration from the work of fellow professionals and the scientific community. We take pride in creating and delivering high-quality educational content. If you’re seeking content that is easily digestible, free from abstract sections and overwhelming statistics, yet maintains a strong scientific foundation, we invite you to explore our Online Magazine. Additionally, staying connected with us through our newsletter or on social media channels will keep you updated on our latest contributions to the field.

To conclude…

Gaining HR knowledge requires a multifaceted approach. Relying solely on personal experiences or influencers is insufficient in a field that demands precision and adaptability. Leveraging professional sources, including the scientific community’s work and reputable platforms, empowers HR professionals to make informed decisions and uphold high standards in HR management practices.

If there’s something we want you to take away from reading this article, it’s that there are thousands of well-researched pieces of content on work-related topics freely accessible online. The platforms we’ve highlighted are invaluable tools designed to empower you in making evidence-based decisions when it comes to managing people in the workplace. Let’s ensure that this abundance of high-quality knowledge doesn’t go untapped or underutilized.

About the Author

Rossina Gitto is the Founder and creative force behind The Humans of HR. She’s a Licensed Psychologist specialized in workplace dynamics and holds a Master’s Degree in International Human Resources Management from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas. Having lived, studied, and worked in 8 different countries across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, she brings a unique global perspective to People Management. She contributes, edits, and publishes diverse content across a broad spectrum of topics for The Humans of HR.

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References

Bielefeld University Library. (2021). Base—Bielefeld academic search engine | what is base? https://www.base-search.net/about/en/index.php

CORE. (n.d.). About core. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://core.ac.uk/about

CORE. (2019, January 21). Introducing core. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gFYNg_8ySQ

DOAJ. (2020). Directory of open access journals. About. https://doaj.org/about/

Elsevier. (2021). Social Science Research Network Solutions. Elsevier.Com. https://www.elsevier.com/solutions/ssrn

Google. (n.d.). About google scholar. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://scholar.google.com/intl/en/scholar/about.html

International Labour Organization. (2021). About the ilo. ILO. https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/lang–en/index.htm

Kefford, B. (n.d.). About British Library EThOS – search and order theses online [Text]. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://ethos.bl.uk/About.do

Oxford Reference. (2021). Scientific method. Oxford Reference. https://doi.org/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100447727

Proofed. (2019, April 5). 10 free research and journal databases. Proofed. https://getproofed.com/writing-tips/10-free-research-journal-databases/