In most cases your research assignment will require locating scholarly articles. If you are not sure what the difference is between a popular article and a scholarly one, read this guide prepared by Cornell University to help you understand the difference.
Many periodical indexes are now available in electronic format.
There are also excellent indexes still in print that can be found in the libraries on campus. To locate appropriate articles you will need to choose the correct database that covers your subject. The Electronic Databases web page links to many electronic databases available at Vanderbilt. Remember that there are many more available that are not accessible via the World Wide Web. Ask a library staff member for help to choose appropriate databases.