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McNair Summer Research Institute (MSRI) at Rider: Information Literacy Strand

This MSRI LibGuide is geared toward enhancing information literacy skills and research capabilities, equipping our students to undertake graduate-level research assignments and effectively compete in the rigorous environment of graduate school.

Advanced PsycINFO Searching Tips & Techniques for Finding Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Articles

Follow these directions in PsycINFO closely: Researchers have identified an advanced searching strategy that narrows your results to only empirical articles that discuss program evaluation (evidence-based practice). This may appear complicated, but it will save you time and frustration!

From the Libraries' home page select Databases. From here you can browse databases by SUBJECT (e.g., "Education") or ALPHABETICALLY.

1. Begin by first choosing Advanced Search and enter this search phrase 

DE Evidence based practice OR DE Treatment outcomes OR DE Treatment effectiveness evaluation OR DE Program evaluation OR DE Educational program evaluation

and Click Search

These are terms the course instructors and librarians have identified in PsycINFO to limit your results to articles concerning program evaluation. 

Psycinfo (ebsco) search page with a red circle around advanced search (Below the search box)

2.  Now click on Advanced Search to use special limiters available there to limit your results to EMPIRICAL STUDIES.

  • Under Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal) and 
  • Under Methodology you will find: EMPIRICAL STUDY, -Meta Analysis, and TREATMENT OUTCOME/CLINICAL TRIAL. 

 

3. Use the Thesaurus link to help you choose correct subject terms for your topic and related terms, or descriptors (i.e., Other related terms/phrases for the descriptive term "Bullying"). 

Psycinfo (ebsco) Thesaurus page with arrow pointing to Thesaurus link and another arrow to the browsing box with the word bully typed in the box.

 

4. After consulting the thesaurus, we've decided to search: 

 bully* OR harassment OR "school violence" OR teasing OR hazing OR cyberbully*

5. Click Search History.  Select S2 and S3 and click Search with AND

psycinfo (Ebsco) search box with search phrase entered and the search history link circled.

 

6.  Scroll down to view your results.

 

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Here is our search history from the above search