Instructions  
PsycTUTOR | Psychology | JMU Libraries

Developing a Database Search Strategy

Use an effective database search strategy for good results.
  1. Identify the main concepts of your topic.
    • Choose words that have substantive meaning.
    • Ignore words like effect, relationship, influence, and comparison.

    Example:

    the benefits of pet therapy for the elderly

     

  2. Generate a list of search terms for each concept. 
    1. Connect synonyms with OR.
    2. Connect concepts with AND.
      keyword search

  3. Use the Thesaurus to select appropriate descriptors for each concept
     
    .Use the Thesaurus

    arrow

    4. Terms from Thesaurus

    1. Select descriptors and perform a search.

PsycTUTOR | Psychology | JMU Libraries