How to translate your keywords into descriptors:
For this example, let's assume you are researching students' math grades, possibly focusing on students' grades on homework and test. What Descriptors should you use to search for this topic?
- Go to ERIC at EBSCOhost
- Click on Subjects Authority (located in the left-hand menu under Research Tools)
- You can also get to the Thesaurus by going to the Advanced Search page and clicking Subjects under the keywords
- Enter your keyword in the Search for terms in ERIC -- Thesaurus search box
- Click on Relevancy Ranked
- Hit Enter or click the blue magnifying glass
- Take a look at the terms that come up:

In this case, it looks like grades is bringing back a lot of irrelevant Descriptors. We are not looking for grade levels, we are looking for grades on homework and tests. What other terms might be appropriate? Are we really talking about achievement when we say grades?
- Search math achievement in the Browsing ERIC - Thesaurus
- Click on the Descriptor that looks like the best match
- In this example Mathematics Achievement
- Click on the Descriptor will usually give you a definition of the Descriptor

To search with the Descriptor:
- Click the box next to the Descriptor
- Click Add to search
- The Descriptor will be added to the Search box at the top
- Click Search