Call the library @ (252) 985-5350
Email the library @
reference@ncwu.edu
Here are a few tips to help you develop a good search strategy:
1. Use two or three keywords rather than a complete sentence. Example:
TOPIC: I'm interested in finding articles on the importance of photosynthesis to global ecosystem.
KEYWORDS: photosynthesis --- plants – oxygen --- light --- carbon dioxide
The other words do not relate to the core concepts of the research question and are not effective keywords.
2. Use quotation marks when you want to search for a phrase. Example:
"social media" or “old testament”
3. Too few or poor results? Use synonyms and related terms to find different results. Example:
"aerobic" in place of "endurance"
“strength training” in place of “resistance training"
Truncation symbol, [an asterisk (*), dollar sign ($), or plus sign (+), etc.], with the root/stem of a word broadens your search to include various wording endings:
child*=child or children or childhood
Wildcard symbol may also be used to replace a single character to include different spellings:
wom?n for women or woman
Databases use different symbols so check the searching help.
Maximize your search by combining these tools:
AND is used to connect two or more keywords using Boolean logic. They are also known as Boolean operators.
Use AND to connect keywords that you think there is a relationship between, or are associated, such as "income AND education", or "gender AND salary". It also reduces the number of results.
Use AND in a search to:
The purple triangle in the middle of the Venn diagram below represents the result set for this search. It is a small set using AND, the combination of all three search words.
Be aware: In many, but not all, databases, the AND is implied.
Use OR in a search to:
All three circles represent the result set for this search. It is a big set because any of those words are valid using the OR operator.
Use NOT in a search to: