Do you have any questions regarding PsycInfo?
Contact Elin Hecker by email elineh@nih.no.
Search tips in general
To find literature about a topic, you start by finding search words (the essence, the words that give meaning).
Then you must decide where to search. It is best to use academic databases that cover specific subjects (like SPORTDiscus), because then you know that the documents have already been tested for quality. Google can be used as a supplement, and preferably Google Scholar.
The following techniques can be used in most databases (including Google Scholar):
- Quotation marks before and after a term consisting of two or more words, to show that the words must stand next to each other.
Example: “physical activity” - Truncation (a star) to search for all words with the same stem.
Example: gen*
You get documents with words that start with gen, like gene, genes, genealogy, etc. - Question mark to replace a letter if the spelling is different in singular and plural, or in British or American English.
Example: wom?n
You get documents with either the word woman or the word women. - AND between search words to search for both words at the same time.
Example: climbing AND cycling
You get documents with both words. - OR between the search words to search for either the first, the last or both words at the same time.
Example: climbing OR cycling
You get documents with either the first or the last or both words. - NOT between the search words to exclude the last word.
Example: climbing NOT cycling
You get documents with the word climbing, but not if the documents also contains the word cycling.
Be careful with the use of NOT so that you don't exclude the wrong word. database at a time.
Search words
Let's start with the following assignment: What impact does physical activity have on quality of life?
Start by finding the words you want to search for and translate them into English. The search language in the database is English, regardless of the original language of the documents in the database.
Remember to include synonyms for your search words!
It can be a good help to set up a table with the search terms:
If you find more words that you want to include, you fill them in the form so that you have an overview of what to search for.
Perform the search
PsycInfo will automatically search for the correct keywords for the terms you have found, and it is recommended that you use these. For example, the term exercise is used for physical exercise in the database, so it is sufficient to search for exercise.
Type physical activity in the search field.
Make sure that "Map Term to Subject Heading" (below the search field) is selected.The database will provide suggestions for keywords, and in this case, you will only see "physical activity". For more information about the term, you can click on it and/or on "Scope Note" at the far right of the screen (blue circle with a white letter).
Auto Explode (includes all subordinate keywords) is automatically checked, and optionally, you can check Focus (to get all documents where the selected keyword is the main focus).
"Physical activity" is automatically checked, and "Combine with OR" is automatically selected. Click "Continue" to search for the term.
Type exercis in the search field.
The database suggests "exercise" among other keywords.
Click on "exercise" - then you will get information that the term is subordinate to "physical activity," and you can exclude "exercise" as a keyword.Type physical exercise in the search field.
The database suggests that you use "exercise" as a keyword. Click on "exercise" - then you will get information that "exercise" is used for "physical exercise." In the previous step, you found out that "exercise" is subordinate to "physical activity," and you excluded "exercise" as a keyword.
So, you have determined that you should only use the keyword physical activity, as it covers both exercise and physical exercise.
To find keywords for quality of life, repeat the process described above. You will end up with the keyword quality of life.
Above the search field, you will find the search history with the number of hits for each term you have searched for. These searches need to be combined so that you get documents that address both topics (physical activity and quality of life):
- Check the searches on physical activity and quality of life.
- Select "Combine with AND."
- If you want to use NOT between two searches, you must type the search numbers in the search field with NOT in between: 1 NOT 2.
- The result of the combination of searches will be visible in the search history.
Finally, you need to refine the search by language and (in this case) age group. Just below the search field, you will find the button "Additional Limits." Click on this for more options:
- Languages: Select the languages you can read.
- Age Groups: Select the group 65 and over as well as 85 and over.
- Optionally select other relevant limitations.
- Click on the button "Limit A Search."
- The result of the limitation will be visible in the search history.
Result list
Below the search fields, you will see two columns – the right one is a list of documents that match your search. The left one shows information about the search as well as a list of filters for refining the search. You can refine by:
- Years – publication year
Remember that most other relevant limitations can be found by clicking on the "Additional Limits" button just below the search field.
Search history
Above the search field, you will find the search history. Here you can see the searches you have made, modify them, and combine them.
You can also save searches and receive alerts when new documents that match the search become available. To do this, you need to create an account and log in by clicking on "My Account" at the top of the screen.
How to get a hold on/read the documents you find
In the results list, you will find a link to the full text under the information about the document. Those that are not available in full text in the database will have the NIH Oria icon instead.
By clicking on the NIH Oria icon, you will either receive a link to the full text for what we subscribe to or the option to request the document if we do not subscribe to it or do not have it electronically.
Before you request a document, it is important to check whether it is in a language you can read. Click on the document title in the results list and look for information about the language.