Criminology and Justice: Starting your Research

Searching by Subject Terms may find a range of items as the search is from the subject perspective.  In ECU WorldSearch, there are a couple of ways to use Subject Headings, included Advanced Search, which allows you to link a number of Subjects together with title words, authors, etc.

Finding Subject Headings

Find Subject Headings by searching for one item that matches part of your overall search, then identify which Subjects have been used for that.

Searching Subject Headings

Then directly type in su: and the subject term. Be sure to choose the library option of Edith Cowan University to display items in the library collection. Refer to the Useful Subject Terms for Video and Film for a list of the main subject terms that you can use to search for resources in the library.

Advanced search

You can also combine Subject Headings with other Subjects, or titles, authors, etc. in the Advanced Search page of ECU Worldsearch.

Subject Headings & Call Numbers

Subject Headings can be difficult to discover, though, so here is a selection of Subject Terms and Call Numbers.

You can also mix and match these, like: Policing AND Child welfare

The below is a selected listing of call numbers that are relevant to Criminology. They are listed as an aid to browsing the shelves in the main collection at the ECU Libraries. When searching ECU Worldsearch make sure to make note of the campus and collection location when seeking print items on shelf.  

The Call numbers (also known as Shelf or Dewey numbers) help you to find related items on nearby shelves. This is especially useful when the item you've found is checked out to someone else, you will still be able to find other items on the same topic.

Remember that this list is not exhaustive and that relevant materials for some subjects will be located at a variety of call numbers. You should complete a search of ECU Worldsearch to make sure you have located all the relevant materials, including electronic books that you will miss by simply browsing the shelves.

A good search strategy is only the beginning, you may end up with many results that are on your topic, but that are unsuitable for other reasons, such as availability, format, age, etc.

ECU Worldsearch allows you to narrow your search results with Filters. You will also find that most Databases have similar functions.

Make sure to narrow them down by using the filters on the left hand side of the web page.
	Pick: Library: Edith Cowan University For academic material select: Peer Reviewed Select: Format: Book, DVD, Music, etc.
For new material, click: Year: Last 5 / 10 Years This will not change your search, but will narrow the number of results.
	For a more precise search, click into the Title and the Description, to find the Subjects an item has been catalogued under. These are more precise than standard Keyword searches, and can be searched via the Advanced Search screen.
Combine these Subjects to get strong results.

1. Identify Key concepts: 

Analyse your assignment question or topic and identify key terms and phrases. Think of alternative terms that can also be used. i.e. primary/elementary school

2. Combine the terms in a search: 

AND - joins concepts and narrows the search

• criminology AND justic*
• policing AND teenagers

3. Use Truncation and Wildcards:

Search all forms of the word, variant spelling (i.e. Australian English v American English)

• child* (child, children, childhood etc.)
• behavio*r (behavior, behaviour)

4. Phrase searching

"...." enclose a phrase in inverted commas to only search for that particular phrase in that order, not for every individual word.

• "criminal behavi*r"
• "addiction studies"

5. Broaden your search:

OR (use synonyms to broaden the search, including alternative or related terms)

• drugs OR alcohol
• corrections OR correctional

6. Exclude unrelated topics

NOT excludes unrelated terms and narrows your search

• "substance abuse" NOT alcohol
• offenders NOT youth

7. Bringing it together! Using (brackets) to group linked sets of ideas

• Polic* AND (Teen* OR Youth) AND ("Drug use" NOT Illicit)

These four brief presentations cover the skills you need to research any assignment topic:

Forms and tip sheets to help manage your research: