Tips

Combination searching:

  • Combine keyword and subject searching or multiple subjects.
  • Combine a previous searches or add new terms to a previous search.

Database Limiters:

  • Use the limiters listed under Add filters to refine your search.
  • Eliminate issues with variant spelling.
  • What are your paper requirements? Set relevant limits, such as Date, Scholarly Peer-Reviewed articles, and other limiters to refine your search.

Search Examples

Use a variety of relevant databases and search expressions, as suggested example search strategies below. Paste these into the suggested database(s), then set limits, such as date and peer-reviewed articles, to match paper requirements.

  • child* AND development AND trauma
    (in SocINDEX with Full Text)
  • child* AND development AND trauma
    (in Sociological Collection)
  • (DE "Trauma" OR DE "Post Traumatic Stress") AND child* and development
    (subject and keyword search; in SocINDEX with Full Text, APA PsycArticles, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, APA PsycInfo, Sociological Collection)
  • DE "AT-risk youth"
    (subject search in SocINDEX with Full Text)
  • DE "AT-risk youth" and (economics or poverty)
    (subject and keyword search; in SocINDEX with Full Text)
  • DE “AT-risk youth” and effective programs
    (in SocINDEX with Full Text)
  • "at-risk youth" AND (program or club) AND (business or Finance)
    (phrase and keyword search; in SocINDEX with Full Text, Academic Search Complete; Political Science Complete; Social Work Abstracts)
  • "children with disabilities" AND Africa (
    keyword search in SocINDEX with Full Text, Family Studies Abstracts, Sociological Collection, and Social Work Abstracts)
  • ("children with disabilities" or "children with special needs" ) AND U.S. AND Africa
    (keyword search in SocINDEX with Full Text, Family Studies Abstracts, Sociological Collection, and Social Work Abstracts)
  • ("children with disabilities" or "children with special needs" ) AND Africa AND (study or report)
    (keyword search in SocINDEX with Full Text, Family Studies Abstracts, Sociological Collection, and Social Work Abstracts)
  • DE "INTERNATIONAL adoption" AND issue* AND (survey research or report)
    (subject and keyword search in SocINDEX with Full text; DE=descriptor or subject term)
  • DE " FAMILY services" AND permanency
  • (subject and keyword search)
  • foster care AND permanency AND (study OR report OR research)
  • (keyword search; limit by date)