The three-minute video below, produced by Kealin McCabe, provides basic instructions for using a journal index.

Kealin is using the multidisciplinary journal index Academic Search Premier in the video, but remember that most journal indexes operate in essentially the same way.

Tip: Subject terms (sometimes called descriptors) are there for a reason.  Use suggested subject terms, or subject terms that you find in database full entries, to revise your searches.

• Use the following to connect your search terms:
  
  • AND - Connecting your search terms with AND allows you to narrow your search.  You will retrieve only the items that have ALL of your terms contained within.
  • OR - Connecting your search terms with OR allows you to broaden your search. You with retrieve any of the items that contain EITHER or ONE OF your terms.