Education and Training: Basic Research

How do I know what words to enter into the database's Search Box?

You may be assigned a topic to research or you may be asked to choose your own. Your topic will be your starting point in choosing search terms.

• Types of search terms: 
  • keywords - a general list words related to your topic.
  • subject searches - words listed or bolded database lists
    • nouns - the names of something or someone -- people, things, places
      •  example - nouns for a topic in psychology: "depression,"  "bipolar disorder," "schizophrenia."
• Make a list of main search terms 
• Create a list of alternate search terms - synonyms (different words that mean the same thing)
  • WHY? Different authors will use different terms that mean the same thing so If you can't find enough information using one search term, another
  • Consult a Thesaurus to find related or alternative words or synonyms.  

As you gather background information and data keep a running list of relevant words, phrases, key concepts, and subjects you encounter to use in future searches related your specific assignment goals.   Make a list of terms and their variations. Different authors use different terms and having this list will help you cover all your research bases.

NOTE: When searching, put quotes OR parentheses around phrases of more than one word -- "early childhood education" or (early childhood education) - to search for the phrase instead of the individual words separately.

Examples:

• preschool; preschooler; preschoolers; pre-K;
• infants; toddlers; (early childhood); "early childhood education"
• students; learners; kindergartners; (elementary students); "middle-school students;" (high-school students)
• (online education); "distance learning); (hybrid classroom)
• STEM; STEAM
• teachers; educators, "teacher assistant;"
• assess; assessment; assessments; (outcome-based education); competencies;

  Advanced Search Strategy - Boolean Search

Combine search terms. Use the Advanced Search tool with multiple boxes.

EXAMPLES:

• play AND learning
  • finds results with both search terms
  • narrows results
• (diversity OR difference) AND education
  • finds results for either search term specific to climate change
  • place the OR terms in parenthesis as a signal to the database to search variations on the similar concepts
  • expands results
• course AND delivery NOT mail
  • finds results for course delivery and eliminates results about mail delivery

  Advanced Search Strategy - Truncation

EXAMPLES:

• educat*
  • finds articles than contain words beginning with the root "educat" - educate, educator, education, educating, etc.
    • efficient search strategy -  do one search rather than many