Psychology 280: Research Methods in Psychology

Before looking for your resources, think about having a plan for your search. What search terms will you use to find the best resources on your topic?

First: Identify the main concepts or ideas from your topic or thesis

If this is your thesis:

Children with autism benefit from "mainstreaming," or being included in typical classroom situations.

The main concepts are autism and mainstreaming.

To find books, articles, and other information about your topic, search for the main concepts and related words.

Second: Brainstorm for search terms

Write down other words that will pull up the articles you need. Think of related terms, synonyms, and other ways the authors may describe the concepts. It may help to develop a list or a visual map of your brainstorming session.

Autism Concept: autism, autistic, learning disability

Mainstreaming Concept: inclusion, inclusive, mainstream, mainstreaming, education, public schools, teaching, curriculum, early childhood education, special education

For example:

Third: Combine your search terms

Link your keywords together using the Boolean Operator AND

If you want to use synonyms, link them with the Boolean Operator OR, and use parentheses () to set them apart

Use “quote marks” around multi-word search terms

Example: autism AND (mainstreaming OR "early childhood education")