Start with your research question and write it down.
One sample format: How does [intervention] impact [topic of interest] in [population of people]?
Example: How do social support structures impact bullying victims in middle and high school?
In this example, the search concepts for your question will be:
Selecting a database to use is a very important part of your search. You may select one or several databases depending on the scope of your topic.
For example, with the sample question, I want to select both databases that deal with psychology and education. This is because the literature on my topic is likely aimed at both educational journals and professionals as well as psychological journals and professionals. Thus, I am going to select the databases; APA PsycInfo, Education Source, and Academic Search Premier.
Conduct an initial search to get keyword ideas.
1. Identify the most important parts of your research question (2-4 words/phrases). These will relate to the concepts identified in the search question/statement. Topic of interest, intervention, and population.
2. Go to a database selected above and make sure you are in the advanced search interface.
3. Type each of the important parts of your topic in a different search box. Make sure AND is selected between the search boxes.
If you need additional search boxes, just click on the plus button to add more.
1. What other terms can you use to describe these same concepts? Brainstorm words/phrases related to each concept in your search.
2. You can also skim through the titles and subjects listed in your initial search results to see if there are other terms that professionals and scholars use to describe these concepts.
3. In the search boxes, add your new terms. Type the terms grouped within the concept and include the word OR between the terms. Example:
Social support OR family relationship OR friendships OR significant other
Bullying victim OR victim of bullying OR target of bullying
high school OR middle school OR secondary school OR secondary education OR youth OR adolescent OR teen
1. Place quotation marks around phrases of 2 or more words. For example, "higher education" will find sources the phrase higher education, together and in that order, rather than sources with the words higher and education anywhere in the item record.
2. Truncate (shorten) words with an asterisk (*) to find words with multiple possible endings (e.g., elder* will recall results that include elderly, elders and elder).
Example:
"Social support" OR family relationship OR friend* OR "significant other"
"Bullying victim" OR "victim of bullying" OR "target of bullying"
"high school" OR "middle school" OR "secondary school" OR "secondary education" OR youth OR adolescent OR teen*
Use the limiters to narrow your search results. While limiters are often specific to the database you are searching in, here are some common limiters you may want to try using.