Advanced Search Tips

Getting frustrated? Not finding relevant sources? Here are some strategies to try when searching the databases.

No Google Searches

Many students make the mistake of using the same type of search strategies that they use in Google. They cram their keywords into one search box when Advanced search boxes are available. 

In the example above, all the search words are in the same search box. 

• Eliminate non-essential words like as, a, the, in, towards. Only use essential keywords that would appear in an article you might use.
• Click on the Advanced Search link to open more search boxes so you can combine multiple search terms.
• Break the different concepts up and put the terms in their own search box. 

Search tips:

1. Separate your keywords into different search boxes by topic using the Advanced search boxes.

2. Combine synonyms or related terms by putting them in the same search box and combining them with OR. Do not combine synonyms and related terms in the same box with AND.    

There is no one correct way to combine search terms. You'll find yourself experimenting with different combinations.

3. Truncate keywords to retrieve various endings for your search terms. Truncation is great for pulling up both singular and plurals of your word.

Examples:  

• immigra* will retrieve immigrant, immigrants, immigration, immigrating, immigrated
• racis* will retrieve racism, racist, racist, racists
• discriminat* will retrieve discriminate, discriminates, discriminating, discrimination, discriminated
• therap* will retrieve therapy, therapies, therapist, therapists, therapeutic, therapeutical, etc. 
• profession* will retrieve profession, professions, professional, professionals, professionally

Keep looking at your results, particularly the subjects, for other keywords you can integrate into your searches to focus and narrow your results. You will need to try different search combinations and to vary your search terms. 

 You might want to search for different aspects of your topic. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Sometimes you will be fine with a simpler search. Sometimes a search using only two boxes will work. The trick is to start out simple and incorporate in other terms as needed. 

4. Phrase searches. Usually, you won't need to do this, but you may put phrases in quotation marks to keep the words next to each other as a phrase. Start your search WITHOUT the quotation marks because sometimes the results work better without them. Only if you notice that your phrase is being separated and you're retrieving irrelevant articles should you add the quotation marks.

Examples:

• "fast fashion"
• "sustainable fashion"
• "Environmental aspects"
• "to be or not to be"

Perseverance and Patience

Like any detective, you might have to try to follow many different trails. Try various search combinations! Research will require patience, critical thinking, perseverance, and a sharp eye for clues.

As you view the results of your research, your ideas for the content of your essay will evolve as you discover research findings, author points of view, and previously unknown aspects of your topic. Don't be like the grumpy TV police commander who wants to focus on one suspect (the wrong one) just to close the case quickly. He will only look at partial evidence and hearsay then arrest the wrong person because of his preconceived notions.

You should be open to findings that contradict what you previously believed, see patterns that you hadn't known about like a thorough, successful detective who captures the right criminal in the end. If you find yourself with a list of arguments that you thought of before doing any research and you're trying to unsuccessfully force your research findings to fit your preconceived ideas, maybe you need to re-think your hypothesis and look at the evidence in front of you. The successful researchers/detectives will follow the research trail results and see where it leads them.