EN
Accounting for the influence of system size in relativistic heavy ion collisions, the finite-size form of a critical related observable is suggested. The fixed-point and straight line methods are proposed in exploring the QCD critical point and phase boundary in relativistic heavy ion collisions. As an application, the finitesize behaviour of the ratios of higher net-proton cumulants, dynamical electric charge fluctuations, and transverse momentum correlations in Au + Au collisions at RHIC are examined.