Westfield State College Ely Library
How to find Empirical Research In Journal Articles
Using the Following Databases:
When using the following databases, follow the search and limit suggestions below.
ERIC
Sociological Abstracts
    Criminal Justice Abst.
   PsycInfo
Sport Discus
    Social Service Abstracts
ERIC (Best Features):
  1. Use the Thesaurus to find and search your topics.
  2. When you are back at the search screen, limit language to English, and enter the following (Words Anywhere Search):
      3. FI=EJ [This will limit your search to journal articles]
      DT=reports-research OR DTC=143
  3. Scroll down to combine these results with the previous searches from your Search History using the Include boxes.
PsycInfo:
  1. Use the Thesaurus to find and search your topics.
  2. When you are back at the search screen, click on the "Limit Your Search" button:
  3. At the search screen, type the line number of your last search into your search box (this should include thesaurus terms).  Make sure to include the number sign # (#5 or #9).  Your search will now be limited to scholarly journal articles reporting on empirical research.
Sociological Abstracts via CSA:
  1. Click on Journal Articles Only.
  2. Scroll down to use the Thesaurus to find a relevant descriptor (subject heading) and click in the box(es) next to your topic.
  3. Click on Search (found on your left), then on Edit Search (a link in the blue area at the top of the result screen).
  4. Enter the following in the search box after the DE=whatever your term is. Be sure to use the parentheses as shown:
      5. and (research or study) and (sample or method*)
  5. Click on Search to retrieve records that will for the most part represent empirical research.
  6. For an alternative method, see example under Criminal Justice Abstracts below.
Criminal Justice Abstracts:
  1. Run a search on your topic.
  2. Enter the following in the search screen:
    3. (
     or   or   ) 

     ( 

     or   or   ) 

     ( 

     or   or   ) 
  3. Scroll down to click on Journal Articles Only.
  4. Click on Search to retrieve records that will for the most part represent empirical research.
Social Service Abstracts:
  1. Click on Journal Articles Only.
  2. Scroll down to use the Thesaurus to find a relevant descriptor (subject heading) and click in the box(es) next to your topic.
  3. Click on Search (found on your left), then on Edit Search (a link at the top of the result screen).
  4. Enter the following in the search box after the DE=whatever your term is. Be sure to use the parentheses as shown:
      5. and (research or study) and (sample or method*)
  5. Click on Search to retrieve records that will for the most part represent empirical research.
  6. For an alternative method, see example under Criminal Justice Abstracts above.
Sport Discus:
  1. Use the Advanced Search to find and search your topics.
  2. In the first search box type in your topic(s)
  3. In the next search box enter research or study
  4. Beneath that, enter sample or method*
  5. Click on "add a row" if necessary
  6. Scroll down to select the following limits:
  7. Click on Search to retrieve records for scholarly research articles.
Logo of Westfield State CollegeURL: http://scroll.lib.wsc.ma.edu:2122/empressp.htm
Page maintained by Corinne Ebbs
Last updated February 3, 2008