LibGuides: Social Work Research Guide: Research Tips

Search Protocols

Start with a specific topic & broaden or narrow as necessary
Use different words/synonyms to describe your topic (different finding tools may use different words/phrases to describe your topic)
Keep a list of keywords and phrases used in each database. When possible, print a copy of your search history from each database
Check the database thesaurus or subject terms to find the terms peculiar to that database
Search by keyword
Use quotation marks " " for a specific phrase: "literature review"
Truncate your search term (famil* finds family, families, familial)
Use Boolean operators (AND, OR) to combine concepts
Limit sources by format and material type
Use subjects assigned to one source to find other sources
Use the references at the end of an article to find other articles
Use the term “Literature Reviews” combined with your topic
Export the bliographic information for your resources to RefWorks
Keep a list of the databases you searc. Use the Research Log below.