Globe Education Network Library / Research Guides / Search Strategies / Subject Searching

Subject Searching

Subject searching searches fixed listings of subject terms used to describe the book or article.

Example: If you're searching "global market," you may see that "globalization" is a subject heading. Clicking on "globalization" will lead you to all the resources that are about that topic. Using subject headings is a way to speed up your research.

Tips:

  • Choose a possible search term and browse the subject index of the database or search engine (see examples below).  
  • If you can’t find a certain concept, try a synonym.
  • Many databases allow you to click on headings in the index to automatically search on that subject. Otherwise, incorporate the subject terms from the index in a new search.

 These are all ways to search by subject:

  • Search the subject index (examples provided below).
  • Some databases offer subject suggestions. Click on subject suggestions to access the subjects.
  • Or click on subject headings in your search results or in the article record.

Examples:

EBSCO databases

EBSCO subject search

    • To search by subject in EBSCOhost click on the subject icon at the top of the screen.
    • When the above screen comes up, you will see an alphabetical list of subjects. You can search or move through the list of subject terms.

Gale databases

Gale subject searching

    • From the advanced search screen, click on the subject guide search at the top of the screen.
    • Enter a term (such as business) in the search box and click search.
    • You can also use the same advanced search narrowing options on the subject search page if you have specific information, such as dates, to look for.

ProQuest databases

 ProQuest subject searching

    • Click on "topics" for the subject index.

Or

    • From the basic search page, click on advanced.
    • If you have other search terms you’d like to use, please enter them in one of the boxes.
    • Click on a scroll box and select subjects.
    • Click on the ‘look-up subjects’ link.
    • The result should look like the above. You can move through the list by searching for terms or the first letter. You can also enter part of a word (such as rev) if you’re not sure how it’s spelled.

 

Thursday December 11, 2008