Research Fundamentals: Searching Help

When constructing a search, ask yourself these questions...

• Are the words too specific?
• Are they too broad or general?
• Do you need to add another term or phrase?
• Are you using correct terminology?
• Is there another word with the same meaning?

Truncation 

Truncating words (replacing part of a word with an * symbol) will retrieve all alternative words. For example, sustain* will retrieve sustainable, sustainability etc.

Wildcard

Internal truncation (also called wildcards and often using the ? symbol) will search for alternative spellings. For example, behavi?r will retrieve behavior or behaviour.

Once you begin searching FindIt@ you will most likely need to limit your results. Consider these options:

• Date: specify a particular time period e.g. last two years
• Full-text only: fulltext is best if you are searching for journal articles
• Scholarly/peer-reviewed: find only peer-reviewed articles
• Document type: you may be looking specifically for business reports, company information etc
• Language: you can limit to a particular language
• Country or geography: perhaps you need content from a particular country

Combine search terms using Connectors, also called Boolean operators.

AND: e.g. prohibition AND Volstead Act, this will retrieve results containing BOTH terms and narrow your search.

OR: e.g. prohibition OR illegal alcohol, this will retrieve results with EITHER and will broaden your search

NOT: e.g. temperance movement NOT mafia, this will retrieve references with temperance movement and will not include mafia and will narrow your search.