Selecting Keywords
This box lives at How To Do Research > Searching For Information > Search Strategies
- Searching for Information - Search Strategies page of the English Comp Canvas Module
- Search Strategy page of the Searching for Information Canvas Module
Unlike web search engines, library search tools and databases don't use conversational language. To get better search results:
- Use keywords and phrases, not full sentences.
- Experiment with related words and word combinations. Words that mean the same thing can produce different results.
- Use academic disciplines as search terms. Combine broad terms like psychology, child development, or nursing, with narrower search terms to improve the relevance of your results.
- Check your spelling. Library search tools won't always check your spelling or auto-correct typos.
This box lives at How To Do Research > Searching For Information > Search Strategies
- Searching for Information - Search Strategies page of the English Comp Canvas Module
- Search Strategy page of the Searching for Information Canvas Module
Combine Keywords & Broader Academic Terms
As you read through background research sources like Wikipedia entries, reference works, your textbook, or news articles, write down words related to your topic like names, key concepts, buzz words, and related academic disciplines. Combining these terms can help build an effective search strategy. For example, you might try searches like this:
- "implicit bias" AND psychology
- "patient education" AND nursing
- "generative artificial intelligence" AND education AND assessment
This box lives at How To Do Research > Searching For Information > Search Strategies
- Searching for Information - Search Strategies page of the English Comp Canvas Module
- Search Strategy page of the Searching for Information Canvas Module
RESEARCH TIP
Put quotes around common phrases, full names, or source titles to find that exact set of terms in your search results.
- "climate change"
- "implicit bias"
- "attachment theory"
This box lives at How To Do Research > Searching For Information > Search Strategies
- Searching for Information - Search Strategies page of the English Comp Canvas Module
- Library Search Tools page of the Searching for Information Canvas Module
Refining Search Results
Once you have found search results in the Discovery Search or one of the library databases, you can further refine or limit the results by a range of criteria.
In the VSCS Libraries Discovery Search, use the filters below the search box to limit your search to full text sources, peer-reviewed sources, or by date or source type. Sort your results by relevance or date by using the drop-down menu to the top right of your results.
Click All filters for more filter options, including location, subject heading, language, name of publication, and database.
