Search Word Help
The search words you use in article databases like Academic Search Complete or PsychINFO will yield the best results if the words mirror terms used to describe the articles or are in the text of the articles.
Key Elements of Successful Searching:
· Synonyms: use more than one word to describe your topic: for example: behavior analysis OR behavior assessment
· Truncation: use * to “truncate” words to find as many forms as possible for a word: for example: assess* will yield assess, assessment, assessing, assesses, assessor
· Logical operators AND and OR: for example: behavior assessment AND autism will yield articles on both the topics of behavior assessment and autism (narrows your search); behavior assessment OR behavior analysis will yield articles on either behavior assessment OR behavior analysis (broadens your search)
· Phrase or proximity searching: In Ebscohost databases, use N4 to find terms 4 words apart: for example, behavior analysis N4 autism will find articles with the words behavior analysis within 4 words of autism
Clarify Your Concepts by Using a Table:
If you are researching behavior analysis of school children with behavior problems, here is one possible set of search terms:
|
Concept: Children |
Concept: Behavior Analysis |
Concept: Behavior Problems |
|
child* |
behavior* analysis |
behavior disorders |
|
elementary school student* |
behavior* assessment |
adjustment disorders |
|
school age (6-12) |
emotional problems |
Remember!: when using Ebscohost databases, review your search results and use words from the “subjects,” titles or abstracts to make your search strategy more effective!
Here is a screen shot of how the search would appear in Academic Search Complete. Note that results are limited to Full Text articles, Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals and English only articles:
