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A researcher is searching an academic database for articles on how mindfulness meditation reduces academic stress in college students, but the initial search using these exact keywords returns very few results. Recognizing that academic database keywords are often author-supplied and highly specific rather than standardized, describe two distinct strategies the researcher should use to modify their search terms to locate additional relevant literature.
Question: A researcher is searching an academic database for articles on how mindfulness meditation reduces academic stress in college students, but the initial search using these exact keywords returns very few results. Recognizing that academic database keywords are often author-supplied and highly specific rather than standardized, describe two distinct strategies the researcher should use to modify their search terms to locate additional relevant literature.
Sample answer: First, the researcher should try alternative word combinations or synonyms, such as replacing 'academic stress' with 'test anxiety' or 'academic pressure'. Second, the researcher should adjust the level of specificity of the search terms, such as broadening 'college students' to 'young adults' or 'higher education students' to capture a wider range of indexed articles.
Key points:
- Suggest experimenting with alternative word combinations or synonyms for the variables.
- Suggest adjusting the level of specificity of the search terms (broadening or narrowing).
Feedback: Academic database keywords are typically author-supplied and highly specific, rather than standardized index terms. Therefore, if an initial search yields few results, researchers must adapt by: 1) experimenting with alternative word combinations or synonyms (e.g., swapping 'academic stress' for 'school anxiety'), and 2) adjusting the level of specificity (e.g., broadening 'college students' to 'young adults' or 'students').
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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