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Biblical Counseling Research: Search Strategies

Specific Research Instructions and Tools for the field of Biblical Counseling

Effective Search Techniques

Introduction .       Using Boolean Operators .       Using Truncation .

Finding & Using Databases .       Refining Results .       Using Google More Effectively .

Access Resources

The Short Version:

There are two separate and distinct authenticating credentials associated with using the Robert L. Powell Library.

  1. To access the Powell Library's ONLINE RESOURCES, e.g., view ebooks, view full text articles, listen to audio books, access databases, you need to log in with your TMU credentials, the same TMU email/password used to access Canvas & Self Service. You will be prompted for these credentials more often when off campus. When on campus, you are most likely already logged in and therefore will not be prompted.

  2. If you are attempting to access your LIBRARY PATRON ACCOUNT, to see what items you have checked out, what their respective due dates are, and permit you to renew them online twice, you will need to sign in with your People ID number (aka System ID number) and whatever password you create. Your ID number can be found on Self Service (select My Profile then Account Information). Use all nine-digits, but do not use dashes or the "P".

For more details select the PDF link above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Search Queries for Biblical Counseling Assignments

Here are suggested search queries for efficiently and effectively finding resources to assist you in answering these frequently asked questions from a variety of Biblical Counseling courses.

NOTE 1:  "su:" is the metatag commanding the search engine to look only in the Subject field of the bibliographic record for the associated keyword [See image below]; "su=" is the metatag to indicate a subject phrase.

  

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION: 

<su:theology (assurance OR perseverance)> alternatively <su:assurance OR perseverance AND theology>. Both the "AND" and the "OR" must be capitalized so the search engine recognizes them as Boolean commands, not as keywords. The parentheses commands the search engine to perform the OR operation first otherwise the search engine resolves the equation from left to right.

BIBLICAL VIEW OF HOPE:

<su:hope biblical teaching> See Image below:

CASE STUDIES on any topic; add the following to your search query:

  • case stud*
  • case report*
  • case example*
  • stud*
  • method*

CRITICAL RACE THEORY:

  • Search ATLA with the phrase “critical race theory”.  Include the quotation marks so the system knows to treat it as a phrase.
  • In Academic Search and ProQuest Research Library use:
    [“critical race theory” christianity law]
    [“critical race theory” christianity]
  • Use these search queries in the library catalog:
    su=critical race theory
    counseling AND su:critical race theory
    su:christianity culture AND kw:counseling
    su:christianity culture biblical
    su:christianity justice AND kw:counseling
    su:christianity justice racism
    su:social justice religious aspects AND kw:counseling 

EGALITARIAN VIEW OF MARRIAGE

NOTE 2:  The asterisk (*) is a truncation symbol (meaning to cut off). It commands the search engine to search the root word and every variation thereafter.  For example, in the case of "equal", the Discovery search engine will find records containing equal, equality, equalize, equally, equivalent, etc.  

<equal* marriage christianity> See image below.

<equal* marriage biblical>

<egalitarian*>

<"male headship>

For Articles, search ATLAReligion and Christian Periodical Index (from the library Web site, select Find Databases):

  • <egalitarian* OR equal* AND marriage>

NOTE 3:  "OR" and "AND" must be in all caps so the search engine recognizes them as Boolean commands and not at key words.  This search will retrieve records containing EITHER some variation of the word egalitarian OR some variation of the word equal.  AND, the records must also contain the word marriage.

SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE:

There are several methods that may be used for easily retrieving resources on this topic.

Search:   

  • <"sufficiency of scripture"> This method will retrieve records that contain the phrase somewhere in the record.
  • <su:bible inspiration> This method will retrieve works which discuss the Bible as a divinely inspired book. 
  •  <su:bible evidences> This method will retrieve works which attempt to establish the truth of statements in the Bible and to present the Bible as a book whose principles should be followed.  The subject heading Bible--evidences is used instead of Bible--authority.

Last updated August 2024.

Search Strategies

Copy and paste the following search queries into the Discovery search box on the Powell Library website along with any other topical keyword to find resources on topics relating to Biblical or Christian Counseling.

su:counseling christianity

su:counseling biblical

su:"pastoral counseling"  (use quotation marks for phrases)

su:"pastoral care"

su:"peer counseling in the church"

> To find case studies on any topic, add these keywords / phrases to your search:

•case
•“case study”
•“case reports”
•“case description”
•method*
NOTE:  Be sure to put phrases in quotation marks.
NOTE:  The asterisk (*) is a truncation symbol (meaning to cut off) commanding the search engine to look for the root word and every variation thereafter.  In this case it will retrieve: method, methods, methodology, methodologies, methodological, methodologically.

> The metadata code "su:" is a command instructing the Discovery search engine to look only in the Subject field of each record in the catalog..

> The use of the subject terms "christianity" and "biblical" (use bibl* to get bible and biblical) can be added to any topic to find the Christian or Biblical view of that topic.

Related Research Guides

Related Biblical Counseling Research Guides

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Janet "Miss T." Tillman
Contact:
Robert L. Powell Library
The Master's University
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