Education Research

Developing a search query can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help.

• Check out a database's Thesaurus to find appropriate keywords for the item for which you are looking. 

• A longer search query helps databases retrieve more specific resources

• Using "OR" between terms will retrieve more results

• Using "AND" between terms will retrieve less results
   
• Use a * (star) truncation symbol, which acts as a wildcard to broaden a search by finding variations of a word's ending, e.g. psych*
   
• Use " " (quotation marks) to tell the database to treat the enclosed words as an exact phrase, e.g. "educational psychology"
   
• Add "Study and teaching" as a search concept to find resources about the educational aspects of studying and teaching a particular subject
• Add grade or level of education (e.g. elementary, secondary) to your search strategy.

Sample Database Search

The following keywords can be used in a Library Catalogue lesson plan search strategy. 

• Science AND "lesson plan*"
• Science AND elementary AND teaching AND activities OR "lesson plan*"

Instructional Materials Search Terms:

• Textbook* OR manuals OR "instructional materials"
• Science AND "study guides" AND examinations
   

The following keywords can be used in a Library Catalogue instructional strategies search. Please note that the general term for instructional strategies when searching the Library Catalogue is "Teaching Methods".

• Problem-based learning
  • "Project-based learning" OR PBL OR "Project method in teaching" OR "Inquiry-based learning"
• Sample Search:
  "Project-based learning" OR PBL OR "Project method in teaching" OR "Inquiry-based learning"
  AND
  "high school" OR secondary OR "grade 12"
  AND
  "social studies"

The following keywords can be used in a Library Catalogue assessment search strategy in combination with keywords describing grade level and/or subject. 

• Test* OR Measurement OR Assessment* OR Grading OR Marking
• "Psychological tests"
• "Educational tests & measurements" OR "Educational tests and measurements"