Search Tips
A few tips for searching in library databases:
Basic Search option (OneSearch) allows you to search quickly by typing keywords or a company name or industry name in the search box.
Advanced Search option (below the OneSearch bar) offers more search choices such as by title, author, subject term, etc. Also, most databases offer many advanced searching and filtering options.
Use thesaurus tools in library databases to find controlled vocabulary terms and help brainstorm search terms. Here is an example from the ABI/INFORM Collection database:
Use "quotation marks" around phrases and multiple word search terms to search for the words as a phrase in the exact order you would like, for example: "independent contractor" or "consumer behavior"
If you have too many results:
- Add in additional search terms
- Limit to peer-reviewed journals
- Limit by date
- Limit by subject
- Limit to items with full-text availability
If you have too few results:
- Check spelling and make corrections
- Erase unnecessary search terms
- Try different search terms
- Use the Boolean operator "OR" between search terms
- Remove any limits you may have added in an earlier search