Follow these 3 steps to design effective searches:
- Brainstorm search words
- Design an effective advanced search for library databases
- Use a similar advanced search for Google
1. FIRST, brainstorm your own search words and gather additional search words from "background info" such as encyclopedias and other reference sources
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2. NEXT, design your advanced search to use in library databases
- To start your research, type into a database the search word(s) that describe ONE ASPECT of your topic
- look in this guide for a list of library databases to perform your search in
- Note that you will need to design several different searches to find info on different aspects of your topic
- Below is a search designed to find info on how women's body image is affected by the media.
- You would need to design a different, modified search to find out how women's body image affects eating disorders, for example.
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Option – Use quotation marks to keep a phrase together in your search:
- Option – Use AND to connect your ideas and focus your search:
- Option - In the same box, use OR to expand your search to synonyms or related ideas:
- Additional Option – Use an asterisk to find word variations:
- Example advertis* finds advertise, advertisements, advertising
3. FINALLY, design your advanced search to use in search engines like Google
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- Option – Use quotation marks to keep a phrase together in your search:
- Option – Use AND to connect your ideas and focus your search:
- Option - In the same box, use OR to expand your search to synonyms or related ideas:
- Note: – By default, Google should find word variations
- Example advertise finds advertisements, advertising
