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LIBS 136: Bad Decisions

Research Guide for LIBS 136

Access Library Resources Online

Trying to access library resources online? Follow the instructions on the Online Access to Library Resources page to access library databases, articles, and ebooks, both on-campus and off-campus.

Mardigian Search (searches all the library's databases at once)

Advanced Search

Search FAQs

1. How do I search for my topic?

  • Identify the main ideas of your topic and use those as your search words
  • Each article has tags assigned to it, words or shorts phrases that make them searchable - you want your search words to match those tags
  • Words like factors, effects, issues, relationships, links are usually not used as tags - don't include them as search words
  • Example: Your research question is: How is the perception of social risk shaped by the availability heuristic?
    • To search for this topic: social risk perception "availability heuristic"
      • "availability heuristic" searches for availability heuristic as a phrase, not separate words

2. How do I focus the search hits to those that meet my assignment requirements?

  •  Use Refine Your Search options to focus your search hits:
    • Click on Peer Review
    • Click on Journal Article under Content Type

3. I have too many irrelevant search hits. How do I focus them?

  • When you find an article that looks interesting, look at its assigned tags (words) 
  • Add any relevant tags to your search
  • This will also help you develop your research topics and search for books and articles for them 

4. How do I know my search words match the tags assigned to articles about my research question?

  • As you scroll through the search hits, look at the Subjects (tags) assigned to the relevant articles you find, and see if they match your search words 
  • Subjects (tags) also help you identify the specific populations or issues in your research area
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