Strategies for searching article databases

 

Q: I'm not finding anything on my topic. These databases don't have anything.

A: Databases are simple pieces of software, so you have to make it easy for them to understand what you are looking for.

Example Research Question/Thesis Statement:

"Abstinence-only" sex education is not only ineffective but dangerous. Teenagers who choose to have sex after receiving such education will have no knowledge of how to protect themselves against diseases and pregnancy.

1. Identify some terms to use:

"sex education"
"abstinence education"
"adolescents"
"teenagers"

2. Use the Thesaurus to identify the formal terms to use. For example:

Keywords Database Thesaurus Terms
sex education Sociological Abstracts Sex education
Sex information
Health education
Marriage and family education
teenagers Sociological Abstracts Adolescents
Young Adults
Puberty
High School Students

3. Enter your terms and specify that you are using Descriptors or Subjects if you are using the formal terms. Some students combine the formal terms with keywords.

That's what the formal terms are called in the databases. Use Advanced Search. Then use the following code words to make a search statement:

AND

OR

“sex education and adolescents”

 to retrieve results that discuss both ideas together

“high school students or adolescents”

 to retrieve results that use  either or both terms

4. You can make your search very specific if you want.
Contact a librarian for more help!

 

Q. How do I get the articles I do find?

A. Look for  Check SFX for Availability: Click on it and it will tell you if we have it in full-text online, in print in the library, or if we don't have it, how to get it through inter-library loan.