The difference between keywords and subject headings:

Keyword searching uses any words or phrases that best describe your topic. Keywords are generally broad and use conversational language; gives you more flexibility and will also yield more results. Keyword searches in a database looks for the term everywhere - title, abstract, subject headings, and notes. Keywords may show up in the abstract but not in the full text.

Subject headings are assigned topics from a predetermined list and are linked to other articles in the database with the same topic. The use of a subject heading searching in a database can lead to a more precise search. In a database, subject headings may also be called Descriptions or Terms.

Developing a search strategy: 

Write down your research topic – pull out keywords and phrases. Describe your topic as best you can with keywords.

• Use a thesaurus to help you find synonyms for your keywords
• In a database start with a keyword search, using words/phrases that describe your topic
• Browse the results; choose articles that are the most relevant.
• Look at the subject/descriptor/term field and write down the terms used
• Redo your search using those terms
• Your results will be more precise than your initial keyword search
• Look at the bibliography of the articles that best fits your topic for additional articles