Thinking about your topic and potential search terms is a critical step in the research process.  Sometimes authors (or databases!) use certain vocabulary when discussing a topic.  Other authors (or databases) might use a different term.  Try searching for synonyms for your search terms if at first you don't succeed!  Use this handy worksheet to help you organize your search terms, along with alternate possibilities.

 

For example:

Organizational Behavior, or:

employee attitude

occupational psychology

behavior

work environment

industrial psychology

corporate culture

organizational sociology

Work, or:

workplace

job

jobsite

office

supervisor

manager

colleague

employment

employee

employer

Communication, or:

interpersonal communication

nonverbal communication

articulation

dissemination

Self-Awareness, or:

self image

self evaluation

consciousness

self realization

self concept

Self-Acceptance, or:

self image

acceptance

self ownership

self esteem

Motivation, or:

incentives

productivity

employee morale

employee attititude

rewards

performance

Trust, or:

dependence

assurance

confidence

Self Disclosure, or:

sharing

acknowledgement

admission

confession

enlightenment

exposure

Conflict Resolution, or:

conflicts

mediation

alternative dispute resolution

reconciliation

negotiation