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ENG 103 FYS Writing Lab (Gardinier): Search Strategies

Keyword Searching

           

           

 

 

Brainstorm for Keywords

  • Describe your topic in one or two sentences.
  • What are the main concepts/keywords?
  • What are some synonyms for your keywords?
  • Combine keywords with Boolean Operators (see box to the
    right) for a more effective search.

Suggested Keywords to Narrow Your Search

  • Psychological aspects
  • Social aspects
  • Attention
  • Distraction

Subject Headings

Find subject headings in the online catalog:

  • Use keywords to find a good resource
  • Click on the title
  • Click on Description
  • Use "Subjects" to focus your search
  • Look at "Contents" and "Summary" for additional keywords

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Find subject headings in EBSCO databases:

  • Use keywords to find a good article
  • Click on the title
  • Click Detailed Record icon on the left side of the screen
  • Use Subject Terms to focus your search
  • Look at Author Supplied Keywords and the abstract for additional keywords

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Use advanced search:

  • Combine subject terms to focus your search even further
  • If available, use a drop down box to search by subject
  • Use quotation marks to search a subject phrase

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Boolean Operators

Using Boolean operators (AND, OR, and NOT) with your keywords will help you narrow or expand your results.

The highlighted middle section represents the use of AND. Searching for poverty AND addiction will give you results with both words present. Therefore, your results are fewer.

Using OR between similar keywords will give you results that include both words. Therefore, your results are greater. A search for teenagers OR adolescents will retrieve either or both terms.

The NOT operator gives you results from only one of your words. Therefore, your results are fewer. Searching for addiction NOT alcohol will eliminate alcohol from the results.

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Search Strategies Video

Online Research: Tips for Effective Search Strategies

Video by Sarah Clark

Note: Click the icon in the bottom right corner to maximize video.

Keyword Searching Worksheet