1. Our agenda:
• Finding journals
• Choosing a database
• Google Scholar
• Constructing an effective search
• Other tools
• RefWorks, writing tips, etc.
1

2. FINDING
JOURNAL
ARTICLES
• Use library databases
• Try Google Scholar
Includes Canadian journal of
native education; Canadian
journal of native studies

3. SEARCH TIPS
Tips:
• Limit to scholarly (peer reviewed) journals
• Use a few tricks:
• Phrase searching: “first nations”
• canad*
• “Get it” button looks for the full text throughout all of
the Library’s databases

4. EFFECTIVE SEARCHING
• Topic statement/research area
• Keywords
• Pull out the main concepts/terms
• Synonyms e.g. teens or teenagers or adolescents
Too many results?
• Use limits (peer-reviewed, date, language, etc.)
• Add additional keywords
Too few results?
• Remove one or more keywords; go broader (e.g. search
Canada instead of Ontario)

5. FOR MORE HELP…
Visit the Aboriginal Studies Research Guide
Visit the resource page in your Sakai
See the Help pages
Contact the Library Help Desk
• 905-688-5550 x. 3233 or use email form
Contact your liaison librarian:
• Jennifer Thiessen (phone, chat, email)
jthiessen@brocku.ca
905-688-5550 x. 3573