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Evidence-Based Nursing - Retiring SP 23

This research guide will help you find resources for evidence-based practice assignments in nursing.

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Database search tips: Using keywords to search

Keywords are words that can appear anywhere in an article including the title or the article text. You'll use keywords to search all of the library databses.   

Before you begin searching, try to think of the keywords and related terms that best describe and relate to your topic. For example, if you were researching depression in new moms, you might come up with this list:

After birth Mothers  Infants Depression
Postpartum Moms Newborns Baby blues
Postnatal Women Babies PPD (Postpartum Depression)

When it comes to searching academic databases, use scientific language. For instance, search mothers instead of moms. Another example might be looking for children instead of kids.

  • Identify a few keywords and search using only those words: depression postpartum mothers.
  • Avoid natural language: Asking a database "Why are new moms depressed?" won't get you very good results.
  • Make sure terms are spelled correctly and that you use other terms that might also apply to, or describe your topic.  For example if you want to find articles about teenagers, you should also use the terms adolescents and young adults.
  • If you aren't sure about what keywords to use, consider reading an encyclopedia article on your topic to get ideas for other keywords.
  • Ask the library staff or your instructor for suggestions on keywords to use. 

Here's an example of a common but incorrect searching style in PsycINFO:

incorrect search in ebscohost

This searcher needs to refocus on scientific language and get rid of the extra words.

second incorrect search

This search is better, because it focuses on scientific language. But it still will yield few results because PsycINFO will interpret this search as a phrase, so it will look for all of these words right next to each other. Some authors may use this exact phrase so you may get 1 or 2 results.

 best search

In this search, the main concepts (keywords) are separated by the word AND. That's a Boolean Operator. It is telling PsycINFO that you want to find all three of these main concepts anywhere in the record for the article, but that the words don't have to be altogether in order. This search will get you the best results.

One other useful search technique: Most of the EBSCOhost databases, like PsycINFO, recognize evidence-based as a subject term. So adding that to your search phrase can bring back articles that specifically discuss evidence-based practices right away.

Evidence-based

 

Adapted from the Paul V. Galvin Library's Psychology Research Guide at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Boolean Operators

Library databases frequently rely on Boolean Operators to connect search terms and find the best articles. This video (3:56) shows you what Boolean Operators are and how to use them in CINAHL and PubMed. From Lister Hill Library.