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Three steps to keyword searching success:
1. Pull out the most important words in your topic or research question and use them to search. Hint: look for the nouns. Example:
- Research Question: Does listening to classical music improve intelligence?
- Keywords: classical music, intelligence
2. Then, think about synonyms or related terms for your keywords. Example:
- classical music: Mozart, Bach, chamber music, opera, symphony
- intelligence: smart, brain, intellect
3. Try searching with a few of your keywords at a time. Not liking your results? Try a different combination or think more carefully about the kind of information you're looking for. Who would be writing about this topic? What kind of language would they use?
Academic Search Complete from EBSCOhost
Academic Search Complete indexes citations, abstracts, and full text from journal articles, books, reports, and conference proceedings in all subject disciplines. Full text provided in PDF and HTML. Searchable cited references are provided for nearly 1,000 journals. Searches can be limited to peer reviewed sources. Indexing 1887-present, most full-text content 1980s-present.
Lists of specialized and recommended databases and resources for each subject area. Look here to find more resources for your topic.