Psychology

Searching PsycInfo

Strategy Overview:

• Break down your topic into Concepts

• Map those concepts to Subject Headings

• Create separate sets for the articles with each Subject Heading

• Combine the Sets

• Apply Relevant limiters

Step 1: Break down the main Individual Concepts in your Topic

Say our topic is - parenting interventions for low income families

We could break that down into these concepts

Example: 

Concept #1 Parenting

Concept #2 Intervention

Concept #3 Low Income

Step 2: Open PsycInfo from the library’s webpage

• library.georgetown.edu

• Type PsycInfo in the main search box

• Click to choose to search Databases

• Click Search

• Choose it from the list

Step 3: Map the concepts to Subject Headings

Click on Advanced Search & insure that the “Map Term to Subject Heading” box is checked

Type in the term you used for your 1st Concept - and again make sure the Map Term to Subject Heading box is checked, and press Search

Then a list of terms will come up - if your term is there and highlighted - then it is the right term for that concept.  Click Continue.  If your term is not there it will show other suggested terms - and you can choose one of those or Click on it to see more details.