1. Finding Articles for your Research
By
Kristin Kroger, MLIS
kk663@nova.edu or 954-262-3117

2. Choose the right database(s)

3. Identify search terms:
• To find/identify search terms:
– read background information about the topic.
(ex) Look up your topic in a medical dictionary or
use the Credo Reference database and its concept
mapping feature to find search terms

4. Best Practices:
• Use one word or concept for each search box.
• If you must use a phrase, put them in
quotation marks or parentheses: "over the
counter"

5. How are the results ranked/displayed?
• Use truncation (Example: therap* will look for
keywords such as therapy AND therapies AND
therapists)
• Don't use "effect of" or "cause of"- databases do not
apply logic to your searches

6. • Look at the Subjects listed for each article as
well as the article titles.
• Articles probably won’t "match" your search
exactly.

7. 5 Common researching mistakes

8. 1. Looking for ARTICLE titles that
exactly match your topic.
• You will miss important articles
• Articles related to your topic will have data
you can use

9. 2. Search terms are too narrow or
too broad.
• If your result list is too small, try broadening
your topic or any of your limiters geographic
location, date range age of population.
– (EX) change Invisalign to dental appliances OR
– Fort Lauderdale to Florida or United States
• If your result list is over 1,000 articles - limit
your search by date, subject or other factors

10. 3. Missing citation pearls.
• If you find an excellent article, select the
author or subject links to find more like it.
Use the ‘Find Similar’ or
‘Related citations’ option

11. 4. Forgetting to save searches & search
terms that produce great results in
[Your Folder] for future reference.
• You can rerun your searches and uncover
newer articles during your research time
period
• You may change the direction of your search
and need to remember how you found your
original articles

12. 5. Choosing a topic that is too
specific
• If you narrow your topic before researching
too much, you may have difficulty articles.
• It is often easier to pick your [talking/writing]
points after seeing what information exists in
the literature

13. Tips & Tricks

14. • Some journals print a theme-based issue once
or twice per year-see the other articles in the
same issue for more information on your
topic.
• Some journals are perfect for researching your
topic. Search within that journal to find more
information. (ex) Journal of Telemedicine &
Telecare

15. • Try researching using your author names.
Often authors write more than one article
about a specific topic.
• Go citation surfing! Look at the reference list
for your article, you're bound to find one or
two gems.