Research Articles

✅Use Open Access Journals: Open-access journals allow users to access articles for free. Websites like PubMed Central, PLOS, and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) each have large repositories of free articles. 

✅Institutional Access: Many research institutions and universities have subscriptions to journals. If you're affiliated with one (e.g., student, employee) or know someone who is, you may be able to access papers through this network. In addition to this, you can also check to see if your library provides remote access (allows users to access library content using the internet, regardless of location) to students or members. 

✅Preprint Servers: A large number of researchers upload copies of their articles to preprint servers before it is officially published. Sites like SSRN (various fields of study), bioRxiv (life sciences), and arXiv (STEM) offer free access to scientific papers. Please note that because articles on these sites are often working papers and preprints, they are not considered peer-reviewed. 

✅Google Scholar: You can use Google Scholar to search for research papers. A preprint or full-text version of the paper will often be directly available through institutional repositories or authors' personal websites.

✅ResearchGate: A large number of researchers upload copies of their articles to ResearchGate. If you're having trouble accessing the full text, you can often try requesting a free copy directly from the author on the platform.

✅Contacting the Author:  Authors are often happy and willing to share their papers for educational purposes directly. Try reaching out through email or on platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram to request their work.

✅Unpaywall: A browser extension that searches across a variety of legal open-access sources to help you locate free versions of research papers/full-text articles. 

✅Social Media and Academic Networks: Some organizations and researchers share papers on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Academia.edu. Additionally, academic conferences typically upload materials for wider access (often found on their website, online repositories, or through publishers). 

✅Library Database: Check your local public library to see if they offer database subscriptions. Some libraries can request articles through interlibrary loan (allows library patrons to borrow from other libraries) or offer access to academic journals.

✅Use “Request a Copy” on Publisher Sites: Publishers sometimes offer the option to "request a copy" of the article you are trying to access. Send an email directly to the author and request the paper. 

✅Professional Memberships: Professional organizations like the American Counseling Association (ACA) provide members with access to some academic journals. Check your professional membership benefits on their site's page.