Database Searching
Every database will have its own unique instructions for searching it effectively, but there are general searching concepts that work in every database.
- Briefly state your research topic.
- Identify the main concepts.
- For each concept, list synonymous or related terms.
- A thesaurus of standardized terminology may be available in the database to help you select terms.
- Retrieve word variants by using truncation symbols (which may vary by database). woman* may retrieve woman, womanism, womanist, womanhood.
- Most databases use controlled vocabulary. Most do not support natural language searching.
- Avoid words like "the, of, a, to," etc. when designing your search.
Continue to the next screen to look at an example of how to build a search strategy:
Selecting a Database
Database Searching (cont.)
