Why Try Different Search Strategies? |
To be an efficient and effective researcher, be...
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Use different search tools to find information:
Background Info in Reference Books, Books, Articles, Videos, Websites
1. FIRST: Try broad search words relating to your topic, such as:
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2. NEXT: Try a new search. Add words to narrow your search, such as:
history | religion | social life |
marriage | kinship | social conditions |
politics | government | legal |
legnends | ceremonies | art |
languages | clothing | food |
health | hunting | first contact |
3. FINALLY: Brainstorm synonyms or related terms for search words
1. When searching the library catalog, databases,
or the internet, AND / OR / NOT
help you broaden or narrow
your search results:
What Does It Do? |
Search Examples | |
AND |
narrows your search, |
drug abuse AND sports finds information on drug abuse that specifically pertains to sports |
OR |
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steroids OR anabolic finds information with the word steroids or information with the word anabolic |
NOT |
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steroid use NOT wrestling finds information on steroid use, but excludes information about wrestling |
2. Use truncation symbols (usually ? or *) in library catalogs and databases to capture all forms of words (forest* will retrieve forest, forests, forester, forested, foresting).
3. Keep searches simple using basic search words. Search on body image women rather than how does body image affect women in the United States?
4. Use a variety of search words. For example, try different searches to find different results:
body image women
self image women
personal appearance women
anorexia women
body image teenagers
...etc.
5. Become a power internet searcher! Use advanced search techniques in Google to get better results from your internet searches