Athletic Training & Exercise Science: Searching with PICO

1. Create a well defined question (PICO).
2. Brainstorm alternate words and concepts.
3. Construct your search strategy.
4. Select databases (see Articles).
5. Tailor your search to the database.
6. Use a reference manager to organize findings, like Zotero or Mendeley.

• Most databases provide basic and advanced search modes. Advanced searching allows you to utilize more limiters to focus your search.

• Use limiters to help focus your search to specific populations, types of studies, and more.

• Don't expect to find the "golden ticket" resource! Research is a process of synthesizing results from various search processes.

Use Boolean operators to join your search terms. Here's how they work.

While thinking of related terms and concepts is useful in searching, some databases, like CINAHL and MEDLINE, also utilize subject headings.  Knowing the difference between them and when to use a keyword vs. a subject heading can have an impact on your search results.