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Writing 100 (Winek)

Advanced Writing

Hashtags

Think of subject terms as hashtags that can point you to more sources with the same tags.

For example, this is a screenshot of the hashtag #YosemiteHike found in Twitter.

screenshot from Twitter with #YosemiteHike hashtag

 

 

Finding Subject Terms

  • When you find a relevant article, make sure to look at the subject terms listed. Think of these as hashtags on Instagram. You can then look for articles with those subject terms to find other potentially relevant items.
  • Databases also have tools to help you discover subject terms.
    • Most EBSCO databases have a tool to help you discover subject terms. See EBSCO Academic Search Complete > Subject Terms
    • In PsycINFO, use the Thesaurus feature.  While mental health is an official term, there are related subject terms you may want to use in your search.
    • PsycINFO also has an explode feature that allows you to search for related subject terms at one time.

Example

Here is an example of some subject terms from the 2015 article "The Effects of Sleep Duration on the Academic Performance of College Students."

Note: Click on the Abstract/Details tab to see the subject terms.