Need Help?
Introduction
Once you are in a database, you will need to convert your topic or research question into language the computer understands. The following search techniques will help you with this process.
Search Strategies
The first step is to determine keywords that sum up the main concepts of your topic. Keywords are typically nouns or noun phrases. If you phrase your topic as a research question or thesis, you can often pull keywords from the topic sentence.
Example topic: How can 3D printing be used to improve the manufacture of pharmaceuticals?
Keywords: 3D printing, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing
Sometimes the keywords from your original topic sentence will not produce the types of results you want. When that happens, try to think of related keywords. These can be other words that have similar meanings, words that are broader (good for when you have too few results), or words that are more specific (good for when you have too many results).
Example related keywords:
Similar: three-dimensional printing, prescription drugs
Broader: computer-aided design, drugs
Narrower: bioprinting, pharmaceutical preparations, drug design
Truncation (shortening your keyword) makes the database look at other possible forms of a word for which you are searching. Use truncation to find plurals and variations on the endings of a word. To truncate, use the asterisk symbol: *. You can enter this symbol by pressing Shift and 8 on the keyboard at the same time or by pressing the asterisk symbol on the number pad.
Examples:
- You want to find the following terms:
technician, technology, technological
Use techn* - You want to find the following terms:
manufacture, manufacturing
Use manufactur* - You want to find the following terms:
pharmaceutical, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutics, pharmacology
Use pharmac*
To find an exact phrase (i.e., words in a row in an exact order), enclose the phrase in quotation marks.
Examples:
- "three dimensional printing"
- "drug design"
- "prescription drugs"
Combine keywords by putting the word AND between them. This requires that both keywords be present in the database's search results. Entries that include keywords connected by AND are referred to as search statements.
Example Search Statements using AND:
- "3D printing" AND pharmaceuticals AND manufacturing
- "3D printing" AND "drug design"
- "three dimensional printing" AND pharmac* AND manufactur*
Note: If you use the Advanced Search feature of a database, AND is the default connector between the entry boxes.
Subjects: A Better Way to Search
Sometimes your topic can be expressed in many different ways. Which is the right way? There are also ways that experts in a field phrase a term that are different than common usage. Using controlled vocabulary can help you retrieve better search results. This is like a hashtag for a topic, and will let you find the scholarly conversation available. By using the official terms, you will find more relevant results.
Controlled vocabulary is frequently referred to as subjects or subject headings. You can scan library catalog and database results for sources that look relevant and see which subjects are listed.
