Using a Subject Specific Database

This is the search string I decided to start with when searching different databases for articles on my topic:

minnesota AND (homeless* OR refuge* OR abandon*) AND (adult* OR mature) AND (support OR help OR provide)

The subject specific database I decided to use was the Cambridge Social Science Database.

When I used my initial search string I did not find very relevant results in either database. For ASP I adjusted my search string to create more results. It only gave me four results and none of them were relevant to my topic. After playing around with my search string, I finally got more results when I used the following one: homeless AND minnesota AND (support OR provide OR help). With this search string I found eight results that were relevant to my topic and three had the full text option and the other five had the find it option. While searching the Cambridge Social Science Database I found many results. A lot of them were irrelevant to my topic. I changed my search string to minnesota AND homeless* AND adult* AND (help OR support OR provide). I still had a huge number of results but I was able to find a four articles that were relevant to my topic. Of these four none of them were in full text but they all provided the find it option.

Since working with these databases I do not think my research question has changed at all. It has taken some time to find information that I want but after change my search string a bit I do find articles that have some very valuable information. I think the hardest thing has been taking the time to modify my search string to find things I am looking for. I cannot use the same search string for each database. It takes some time to figure out the right keywords and synonyms to use. After I figure that out though I do find some really good information.