Module 1 - Searching Expertise - Subject Headings Via Keyword Search

Most periodical indexes and catalogs use a list of approved subject headings for their records. The list is sometimes called the thesaurus. By having approved terminology, the database has controlled vocabulary, allowing you to find all the articles about your topic under one term. For example, you may be looking for the term displaced persons and not find anything unless you knew to look for refugees.

How do you find the approved subject headings?

A very effective way is to do a keyword search. Then look at the full or long record. The name of the subject heading varies, depending on the index. Look for the term subject, topic, descriptor, thesaurus, and others in addition to the term subject heading.