Start with a topic that is appropriate for your assignment and preferably one which interests you
Get ideas and background information from browsing through journals and scanning encyclopedias and other reference books
Identify the main concepts in your research question
Circle the main ideas (there should be approximately 3)
Disregard insignificant words (in, the, should, etc.)
Choose a database or index
Consider all databases or indexes which are relevant (Proquest, Academic
Search Premier, etc.)
Start with the most relevant database or index
Choose synonyms for each main concept
Think about all the possible words that could be used to express your concepts (they can be more or less specific, singular/plural, truncation, variant spellings, etc.)
Use the thesaurus or the subject headings used in the indexes (databases) you have chosen to generate more synonyms and a more precise search
Combine your concepts with the appropriate Boolean connector
AND is used to connect separate concepts (horses AND color blindness)
OR is used to connect the various synonyms that you have listed (horse OR ponies)
Perform the search in the chosen database or index
If you need help using the database or index, use the online help, use provided handouts, or ask a librarian.
Consider limiting to full text articles, peer reviewed articles, by date, title of publication, etc.
Try various combinations of the keywords and subject headings you choose, and look for new keywords and subject headings as you review the results.
Review the results
Check the relevancy of your results: look at the title, subject headings, abstract, and, if available, the full text. Who is the target audience? What credentials does the author have?
Refine your search
According to the number of results your search turned up, either limit or broaden your search as needed
Be willing to change your topic if you find something more interesting, applicable, etc.
Look in other indexes
Locate articles
Some of the citations you turned up may have included the full text of the article. If not, do a "journal title" search on the Journals List page to see if GRCC subscribes to the journal and has the volume/issue you are looking for in print or if it is included in a different database to which we subscribe.
If GRCC does not own the items you are looking for, you can request an item (at no charge) through Interlibrary Loan (ask at the Reference Desk).
