Database Searching
Did you get too many results? If so, try some of these ideas to narrow down your results:
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Narrow by dates (only newer, older, or a specific range of dates)
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Narrow by type of source (peer-reviewed journals, magazines, etc. based on the assignment’s guidelines)
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Add another of the search terms you listed above, connecting the two with the “AND” provided in the database’s Advanced Search
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Using the database’s Advanced Search option, change “AND” to “NOT” to exclude terms you don’t want (ex. “Pride and Prejudice” NOT film)
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Put any multi-word phrases into “quotation marks” to prevent other words from coming between them
Did you get too few results? If so, try some of these ideas to expand your results:
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Using the database’s Advanced Search, enter 2 search terms that are synonyms, connecting them with the word “or” (ex. film OR movie)
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Enter your main topic in a Subject Search. Look at the subdivisions or subjects given to you to get new ideas for better search terms (find out what the database is calling it)
- Basic Search Tips Help SheetThis is an optional worksheet that will remind you of the searching tips the library research session taught you.
URL: https://library.brockport.edu/mcnairprogram