The same concept holds true when you search for books. The Library of Congress Subject Headings are assigned to books. AND, OR, NOT Using Boolean operators will help you refine and narrow your search. To find which to use in your database, consult the HELP section. If you use databases like Social Work Abstracts, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, finding peer-reviewed research journals will not be a problem.
Websites are a different story.
Be a critical consumer when it comes to information you find on the web. There's a lot of good information, especially from non-profit organizations, think tanks, educational institutions and the government. Check the thesauri listed above for other terms, or take a look in your text for other keywords. You can also ask Stephanie for help. If you're searching a database that only provides citations and abstracts but no full-text, use the options below to find out where you can get the text of the article you need.