Search Basics
When beginning research, it's a good idea to develop a concise expression of your search topic or research question. After doing so, identify the topic's two or three most important concepts.
Deciding on Search Words:
- Take keywords or main ideas from your research question
- Finds words in articles and books you've read on the topic
- List synonyms and/or use a thesarus
Get More Results (Broaden Search):
- Gather your synonyms and use OR.
- Example: youth OR teens OR adolescent
- Get all endings of root words in one search, using the asterisk (*)
- Example: Get all endings of the word communicate --communication, communicate, etc.
- Example: communic*
Get Fewer Results (Narrow Search):
- Use AND between search terms. Both search terms must show up in your results.
- Example: communication AND youth
Search Within Parts of Article:
- Within a database, limit to certain "fields"
- Examples: Titles, abstracts, and subject headings
Putting it all Together (Example):
