Q. How do I find the index for similar words on journal articles so that I know I am using the correct search words?

Indexes and databases, especially those in the health sciences, use their own discipline specific terms for subjects, i.e. in MedLine the term for human balance is "equilibrium." Knowing the language a database uses can turn you into an expert searcher.

Look for a link for a "thesaurus" or "subject headings" when you access a specific database.

The more general/generic a database is, the harder it is to create a thesaurus.

Because SOLAR searches all our databases in one search, there is no one specific thesaurus for it. If you do find a good article on your topic, look at the full record, or description of the article, and note what terms were used and what specific database the article came from. This can help narrow the hunt down for you.

Good luck searching!