As You Search...
- Start with a search that uses only the most relevant keywords needed to describe your topic;
- Check your search connectors to make sure you are using them properly;
- Spend time carefully reviewing the citations you receive;
- Let what you find in your searches help guide you:
- Pay attention to research trends concerning your topic;
- ALWAYS look at the Subject Headings/Descriptors/Keywords given to relevant articles in the citation records;
- Can lead to new search terms or ideas to focus your research question;
- Your search itself will be more focused and relevant.
- BE FLEXIBLE! Be ready and willing to adjust your search using different search terms or changing your focus depending on what you find;
Online Tutorials
Prepare yourself for more effective and efficient searches by viewing these tutorials first.
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Generating and Using KeywordsDo not use questions or phrases to search with! Databases require you use only the most important Keywords individually.
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Using Search ConnectorsWhen Searching Databases you must use "search connectors" between your keywords. They tell the Database how to process your search.
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PsycINFO IntroductionA thorough introduction to using PsycINFO.
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APA Citation StyleThe final step, citing your sources.
Databases
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PsycINFO, 1887 to dateThe primary index and database for the study of Psychology.
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PsycARTICLES, 1894 to dateFull text to selected top-tier journals in Psychology.
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PsycTESTSContains psychological tests and assessments, along with instructions and descriptions.
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MIT CogNetA collection of books, journal article and reference works in cognitive science research.
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SocIndex With Full TextCovers mostly journal literature in all of the social sciences.
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MEDLINE (ProQuest)The premier database for medicine and related areas.
Finding Subject Headings in PsycINFO
For example, you are searching to explore if there has been any research on self driving cars in Psychology and how psychologists might be interested. Start with a KEYWORD (in this case a phrase) search "self driving cars" in the first search box.
When you click on the Search button, you retrieve over 300 articles. Scroll through the results until you find an article that uses your search keyword/phrase. In the example it is number four circled in red.
Link to the title of article 4, "Responsibility and the moral phenomenology..." The full record for the article is retrieved. Scroll down until you find the "Subject" listing, circled in red. The two Subject terms/phrases used by PscyINFO are "Automation" and "Motor Vehicles."
Go back to the "Advanced Search" form and enter the two new Subject term and phrase into the two search boxes, the use the drop-down menu to the right of each box and select "All subjects & indexing." Click on Search button.
Now you retrieve 51 article (as of 3/2018). This a a lot less but these will be specifically about self driving cars. From here you can browse the articles, see what researchers are studying and choose another keyword or subject term to add to your search as you focus on your interests.
