Sometimes you need to specify how you'd like a database to search your terms. The handout below describes in more detail four different advanced searching techniques you might want to try:
- Subject Terms- Limit your searches by focusing on the content of the article rather than the terms used by the authors. Pre-defined list of terms unique to each database. In OneSearch, use "Advanced Search" and limit to "SU Subject Terms."
- Phrase Searching- Keep words together in a specific order by adding quotation marks around them, i.e. "social media," "climate change," "mental health," etc.
- Wildcard / Truncation- Use the asterisk * at the end of a root word to search other variations of that word, i.e. child* searches child, children, childhood, etc.
- Boolean Operators- Use AND, OR, NOT to focus your search.
- AND - limits the search by requiring all terms to be present
- OR - expands the search by looking for either term
- NOT - eliminates one term entirely from the search, including overlap with other terms you want
Watch the video below to see these strategies in action in the library's OneSearch, or use the handouts to get more detailed steps and practice these tools.
Please contact a librarian if you have any questions or would like advice on crafting a search for your topic!
