SOC/WGS 364: Sociology of the Family

Strategies for search statement language for use in library databases:

• Use an * to search for multiple forms of a word in a single search:
  • child* = will search for: child, child's, children, children's
  • parent* = will search for: parent, parents, parenting, parenthood
  • incarcerat* = will search for: incarcerate, incarcerating, incarcerated, incarceration
     
• Use "quotation marks" to have multiple words searched together as a phrase:
  • "child custody"
  • "social reproduction"
  • "head of household"
  • "transnational famil*"
  • "define family"   |   "definition of family"
  • "single-parent"   |  "two-parent"
  • "step-sibling"     |   "half-sibling"
  • "mental illness"  |   "mental health"
     

• ​Use the word OR (in capital letters) to search for words with similar meaning -- always place within (  ):
  • (kids OR children)
  • (white OR caucasian)
  • (black OR "african american")
     
• Use the word AND (in capital letters) to combine different topics/concepts:
  • foster AND ("definition of family" OR "define family")
  • immigrant AND famil* AND separation
  • "transracial adoption" AND (black OR "african american")