Getting frustrated? Not finding relevant sources? Here are some strategies to try when searching the databases.
Do not cram keywords into one search box when Advanced Search boxes are available.
1. Separate your keywords into different search boxes by topic using the Advanced Search boxes. The Advanced Search link is located under the top search box.
The two concepts are now in separate 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.
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:
telecommut* will retrieve telecommute, telecommutes, telecommuting, telecommuted, telecommuter, telecommuters
pandemic* will retrieve pandemic, pandemics
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.
4. Phrase searches. (Optional) Usually, you won't need to do this, but quotation marks keep the words next to each other as a phrase. Caution: it might give you too few results and you may lose some interesting articles.
Examples:
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.