This slideshow is part of a Decision-based Learning module for Information Literacy. The information is not intended to stand on its own.

1. SEARCHING:
SUBJECT TERMS/ CONTROLLED
VOCABULARY

2. Subject terms (sometimes called the “controlled
vocabulary”) include the special language used by
databases to describe what an article is about
• Subject terms can help you conduct a very precise search
• Unlike keywords, when you search for a subject, the selected subject words
need not be included explicitly in the article’s text
• In order to conduct a subject search, you must first know the specific subject
terms that a database uses

3. If you have previously used a database to find a
relevant article, look at the database record for
that article to find its subject terms:
• The terms used by different databases vary, so specific subject terms are
typically only useful within a specific database

4. v
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