APA PsycInfo allows you to limit your search to a specific methodology or set of methodologies. One methodology field in APA PsycInfo offers you the opportunity to search specifically for empirical studies.
Related Links:
Direct Link to Methodology Field Values Document (American Psychological Association PDF)
Using the Methodology Limiter in APA PsycInfo on EBSCOhost (American Psychological Association tutorial)
The American Psychological Association (APA) offers a Quick Reference Guide for searching APA PsycInfo via EBSCO.
The following information is taken directly from the EBSCOhost Help database.
You can use a proximity search to search for two or more words that occur within a specified number of words (or fewer) of each other in the databases. Proximity searching is used with a Keyword or Boolean search.
The proximity operators are composed of a letter (N or W) and a number (to specify the number of words). The proximity operator is placed between the words that are to be searched, as follows:
Near Operator (N) - N5 finds the words if they are within five words of one another regardless of the order in which they appear.
For example, type tax N5 reform to find results that would match tax reform as well as reform of income tax.
Within Operator (W) - In the following example, W8 finds the words if they are within eight words of one another and in the order in which you entered them.
For example, type tax W8 reform to find results that would match tax reform but would not match reform of income tax.
In addition, multiple terms can be used on either side of the operator. See the following examples:
The following information is taken directly from the EBSCOhost Help database.
Use the wildcard and truncation symbols to create searches where there are unknown characters, multiple spellings or various endings. Neither the wildcard nor the truncation symbol can be used as the first character in a search term.
Wildcards
The wildcard is represented by a question mark ? or a pound sign #.
To use the ? wildcard, enter your search terms and replace each unknown character with a ?. EBSCOhost finds all citations of that word with the ? replaced by a letter.
For example, type ne?t to find all citations containing neat, nest or next. EBSCOhost does not find net because the wildcard replaces a single character.
Note: When searching for a title that ends in a question mark, the symbol should be removed from the search in order to ensure results will be returned.
To use the # wildcard, enter your search terms, adding the # in places where an alternate spelling may contain an extra character. EBSCOhost finds all citations of the word that appear with or without the extra character.
For example, type colo#r to find all citations containing color or colour.
Note: Searching the U.S. spelling of words will also include some spelling variations (i.e. colour or odour) but not all spelling variations.
When using the pound/hash (#) wildcard, plurals and possessives of that term are not searched. For example, when running a search for the term colo#r, the terms "colors" and "colours" will not be searched (which they are by default when using the singular "color" or "colour" without a wildcard operator).
Truncation
Truncation is represented by an asterisk (*). To use truncation, enter the root of a search term and replace the ending with an *. EBSCOhost finds all forms of that word.
For example, type comput* to find the words computer or computing.
Note: The Truncation symbol (*) may also be used between words to match any word.
For example, a midsummer * dream will return results that contain the exact phrase, a midsummer night’s dream.
Note: Wildcards and Truncation cannot be combined for a term in a search. For example, a search for p#ediatric* would be the same as a search for P*.
Use Google Scholar to search through thousands of journals, many of which the Pollak Library owns. You can also find patents and legal documents with Google Scholar.
By connecting Google Scholar to the Pollak Library, you have access to a special "Pollak Library Find It!" link in order to determine if a particular item of interest is available full-text online, in print, or through interlibrary loan.
If you need assistance with connecting to Google Scholar from off campus, the information on this page offers one way to configure Google Scholar so that it connects with resources available through the Pollak Library.
Please read the information below to learn how you can construct a search of government Web sites in Google for information on your research topic.
As you look for statistical information, some keywords you may want to include in different searches are:
statistic, data, prevalence, incidence, survey, rate, demographic, population, characteristic, trend, sample
The following sample searches are for statistics related to childhood obesity from government Web sites. Please remember the option to search organization and education Web sites as well.
In addition, please remember to use different search terms and to try different searches as needed in order to find helpful information for your assignment. In cases where the statistics are not recent, please note the source providing the statistics and search for the Web site of that source (e.g., a government agency) so that you may continue your research on that Web site for more recent data.
As always, please take the time to evaluate your sources.
Sample Search #1
site:.gov "childhood obesity" data
Sample Search #2
site:.gov children "healthy eating" survey
Sample Search #3
site:.gov "obesity in children" statistics California
It is possible to find a variety of resources online that offer tips for constructing searches in Google, such as this example.
(Example courtesy of Angela-MinhTu Nguyen, Ph.D.)