1 Terms and Vocabulary

Terms and Vocabulary

In order to find relevant results, you need to use the specialized vocabulary and jargon used in criminal justice research. Keep notes of terms that you come across as you research.

• Check subject headings in the databases to find additional helpful terms. In the screenshot below, note the keywords below the article abstract in Criminal Justice Abstracts.
  

  

• Try broader and narrower terms to see which provide optimal results.
• If the database has one, make use of its subject terms directory. Below is an example of the subject term “robbery” in SocIndex Full Text. Note that it provides a description of the terms as well as additional related terms that may help with your search.