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CJ 466 - Police Culture: Articles and Databases

This guide is created to support CJ 466.

Searching Databases for Articles

A database is a collection of many different academic journals that can all be searched at once. Most academic journals use a peer-review process to review articles for quality before publication.

You search a database by creating a search query. Search queries use search terms and can have Boolean Operators and punctuation. Based off your search query, you will get a list of articles (and other resources) as results.

Tricks for Choosing Search Terms

Using Your Research Question

Turn your research question into search terms.

  1. Write out your research question. How do short-term employment contracts affect hospital healthcare workers' mental well-being?
  2. Identify the important words or terms. Look at the nouns that specify the scope of your topic. 
    1. What people? Contract healthcare workers
    2. Where? Hospitals
    3. What kind of issue? Mental health
  3. Write out each important word/term. List synonyms or terms that have the same feel.

Using an Article You Like

Look at that article's keywords. Keywords are usually written underneath the article's listing in your search results. 

Different databases use different keywords. By reusing the keywords, you are learning to speak that database's "language".

Using Search Suggestions

Some databases will give you suggestions for search terms when you start typing in a search box. These are terms that the database absolutely recognizes. 

Sometimes, the suggestions will be several terms in the same text box, all separated by the Boolean Operator or. This means that the search engine will search for all those terms at once.

Always check before you select a string of terms. Some of the terms might not be equivalent for your specific research topic!

Creating a Research Question

You can build a research topic through a mind map. You can use pieces or paper or textboxes to arrange your ideas.

  1. Place your initial idea in the center of your workspace. 
  2. Write out every related concept separately. 
  3. Put similar ideas together.
  4. Use the grouped ideas to create a question. 

In free association, you allow your thoughts to flow freely without interruption. You later review your thoughts and select what is useful/interesting.

  • Speaking and listening. Use a recording device like your phone. Talk freely about your topic to yourself or to another person. Later, review your recording and create a research question out of your chat.
  • Writing and reading. Write freely without any revisions or editing. Later, review your text and create a research question.