Criminal Justice Research Guide

These search strategies can help you in any database you use.

Using the right keywords can affect how relevant your results are. Start with your main ideas, then add or revise using keywords as you encounter new ones.

Example research question: How effective are rehabilitation-based prison reforms in reducing recidivism rates in the United States?

Main ideas: rehabilitation, prison reform, recidivism rates

1. Search with specific keywords (not questions or long phrases).
2. Search 2-3 keywords at a time. Each keyword you add will reduce your results.
3. Use quotation marks around words you want to search as a complete phrase ("recidivism rates").
4. Limiters: always use the Full Text limiter. Use the Peer Reviewed limiter if that is the kind of information you need. You can also adjust the date range to get the most current articles.
5. Number of results: Strive for no more than 200 hundred results. If you have more than that, try revising your search. You want a list of results that is manageable so you can look through them all.

Types of Keywords

Keywords fall into three main categories: Broad, Narrow, and Related.

• Broad: More general categories (mass incarceration)
• Narrow: A specific category (prison conditions)
• Related: Synonyms or similar terms, or terms that are connected to your topic (overcrowding, prison violence, corruption)