This is a very important step as your original search statement is unlikely to be absolutely right for every database.  By looking at records from different databases, and the keywords used in those databases, you can adjust your search to try to ensure you are not missing any valuable references.

Each database is different - they cover different subject areas and use different keywords or subject terms to describe your topic. The terms in the subject field are standardised for each database so they will be consistent within a database, but it is important to remember that they may vary between databases.

The keyword or subject field may be labelled: keywords / index terms / descriptors / controlled terms

TIP

In each database you search, browse through some of the references found with your initial search.  Do they look appropriate for your topic?

If you find a very good article for your topic, note the subject terms that have been assigned to the article and incorporate them into your search strategy to find similar articles. The subject terms will usually appear below the abstract in the database's complete record view.