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Education (MA)

Use Keywords to Find Articles by Methodology

You can add keywords for the type of methodology to your search terms. If you have a particular research method in mind (e.g. survey, case study, etc.), you can include keywords to describe it in your search.

For example:

  • reading comprehension, intervention, qualitative
  • reading comprehension, case study

Start your search by entering keywords for your topic and then add a keyword for the methodology.

Possible keywords:

  • qualitative
  • quantitative
  • case study
  • interview
  • field study
  • ethnographic
  • experimental
  • mixed-methods
  • statistic
  • correlation.

A database search for keywords reading comprehension intervention qualitative research

Example search in ERIC for reading comprehension, intervention, and qualitative research


Use the keyword case study as a search term in One Search

Example search in OneSearch for: reading comprehension, intervention, and case study

Use ProQuest Education: Methodology Search

ProQuest Education & Psychology Combined is a database that allows you to search for a specific type of methodology using the Methodology Filter.

  • Broad searches may work better. While there is an overlap between psychology and education, it is a more limited pool of journal article content that you are searching.

Tips for ProQuest Education

1. Start your search by entering keywords for your topic and then select a specific methodology.

Many databases allow you to search and limit by specific methodologies. Look for a Methodology Filter in the database using the Advanced Search page. 

Screenshot of a database search using the methodology filter in the database


2. OR, Filter the results by methodology after you see the results from a keyword search.

Screenshot showing the database search results and methodology filter

Tips for using the Methodology filter:

  • Search by one methodology at a time. Then, within your same search, change the methodology filter to the next method you want so you get different results.
  • Some methodologies are rarely used for certain research topics. You may need to broaden your search to find a study that uses your preferred methodology. 
  • Many articles and dissertations include methodology terms in the abstract or title. It's a good idea to look at the methodology section in the full text to be sure the example fits your research needs.