Evidence-Based Practice for Prevention Science

Here are some tips for searching library databases:

• Use AND to combine your concepts, e.g., child abuse AND alcohol (AND must be in caps)
• Use OR to combine synonyms, related terms, e.g., domestic violence OR family violence (OR must be in caps)
• Parentheses allow complex queries to be layered, e.g., child abuse AND (alcohol OR substance abuse)
• Use the * (asterik)  to search for the root word and any ending, e.g., parent* will retrieve parent, parents, parenthood, parenting.
• To search for an exact phrase, place the phrase in quotation marks, e.g., "attachment theory"

After you create your search bar, use filters and field tags to further refine your results. 

• Filters = narrowing down your results one you search 

• Fields = only searches specific elements of the article (e.g. the title or the abstract) 

A screenshot of filter options from the PsycInfo database. 

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A screenshot of field options from a ProQuest database