How to search academic databases
Avoid Natural Language
Stick to keywords and phrases - don't write out questions in full.
Use Quotation Marks Around Phrases
This ensures your search results will include the phrase, not the individual words found separately in the document.
Use the Advanced Search
It will be located in different places depending on the database, but it will help refine and improve your search.
Use Limiters Provided by the Database to Narrow/Focus Your Results
Limiters are usually found on the left or right-hand side of your search results.
Limit by source type, date of publication, reading level, subject, publication, and more
Use Boolean Operators
AND: Narrows your search by requiring all connected terms to appear in the results.
Example: cats AND dogs finds records that mention both animals.
OR: Broadens your search by finding results that contain at least one of the connected synonyms or terms.
Example: cats OR kitties OR felines finds records with any of those words.
NOT: Narrows your search by excluding specific words or unwanted terms.
Example: cats NOT dogs finds records about cats but removes any that also mention dogs.
