PSYCH  Research  Project
Search Strategies ​

Focus Your Topic: not too broad - not too specific.
Develop a clear research question.

For example, a research question might be:
What correlation is there between social media use and academic performance?
                           OR 
How do memory exercises, such as "mind palaces," affect Alzheimer's patients?

Divide your research topic/question into basic key concepts.
Example:
  • memory
  • Alzheimer's
  • mind palace/memory exercises
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These ideas can be used as keywords when searching for sources. 
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​Use Boolean searching techniques to narrow or broaden your search:

OR - Tells the database that you want all articles that have similar words (synonyms)
AND - Tells the database that you want articles that include all of your key words.
NOT - excludes words from your search.
Google Tips
  • Use quote marks (“ ”) around search phrases, e.g., “fast food”
  • Use OR between words for the same concept, e.g., children OR teens OR "young people" OR adolescents
  • Limit searches to sites from a specific web domain (e.g., .edu, .gov )
  • Limit searches to a specific website, e.g., site:nytimes.com will limit a search to the NY Times website
  • Limit by time period by clicking on 'Search Tools' at the top of the results page and the 'Any Time' pull-down menu
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Google Scholar 
Google Scholar searches specifically for scholarly literature - peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, etc. Some of the search results are available in full-text but many display only an abstract with links to pay-for-document services.
Locating Sources
Research Databases
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For EBSCO use your public library card number to login. If you don't have it, please email: botero@smuhsd.org or call: 650-558-2859
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  • Points of View Reference Center - Resources that present multiple sides of an issue. Provides content to help assess/develop persuasive arguments and better understand controversial issues.
 
  • Explora General Search - Both teen and adult content on Academics, History & Biography, Legal & Government, Magazines & Newspapers, Science & Technology, Statistics & Demographics.
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  • Science Reference Center - Full text for hundreds of science magazines, journals, encyclopedias, reference books and more.

For Gale use the password: panther
  • Gale Opposing Viewpoints - Supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts; presents all sides of important issues.
 
  • Gale Global Issues - Supports global awareness. Authoritative content empowers learners to critically analyze & understand important issues of the modern world. 
 
Navigating Through Databases
The image below highlights some areas to focus on to best navigate through databases. 
Evaluating Sources
Use the following infographic to confirm that you are using the best possible sources in your research:
Presentation Tools
  • Prezi - Presentation software that provides smart structure and Zoom Reveal function that allows users to guide the eye toward a presentation’s most important information. Free version allows for unlimited presentations, easy to use, alternative to standard slideshow presentation format. 

  • Adobe Spark - Provides non-designers with tools for creating professional-looking web content, can create various graphics, videos, web-based presentations. Includes articles on designing and presentation inspiration. 
 
  • Powtoon - An animation and presentation program that can be used to create more interactive and engaging content. It offers a variety of animation styles including cartoons, infographics, and whiteboards. Free premium trial, then basic includes branding/ads.
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  • Visme - An intuitive online tool that allows non-designers & professionals to create interactive presentations & infographics in their browser. Free plan gets users up to 100 MB of storage, can publish online, easy to use, but not currently designed for mobile devices/limited projects with free plan.
Citing Sources​
  • Videos (APA): Last Name, F.M. [Username]. (Year, Month Date). Title of video [Video File]. Retrieved from URL
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OWL Purdue is a reliable source for confirming all citiation guidelines in both MLA and APA formats. Select the image for a link to the site.