Database Search Tips
- Use Boolean operators connect your search words together to either narrow or broaden your set of results. The two basic boolean operators are: AND and OR.
- AND tells the database that ALL search terms must be present in the resulting records.
Example: body consciousness AND teens
- OR increases your results, telling the database that ANY of your search terms can be present in the resulting records.
Example: teens OR adolescents
- AND tells the database that ALL search terms must be present in the resulting records.
- Broaden a search by using a truncation symbol with a search term. Most databases use the (*) symbol. For example, intersex* retrieves intersex, intersexual, intersexuality, intersexualization.
- Use quotes around search words to force exact phrase searching. Example: "black feminist thought"
- Use database “limit” options as needed. Most databases offer these options to limit your results:
- to scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals
- by source type (academic journals, magazines, newspapers, etc.)
- by language (e.g., English)