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SOAD C381 Product/Furniture Design

Search Tips

Subject Terms can help you identify effective keywords. Most databases list Subjects in their search results.

For example, in OneSearch: 

1. Do an initial search. 

2. Under Refine Search click on Subject.

Use AND, OR, and NOT to narrow or broaden search results.

Venn Diagram dipicting the example search Renewable Energy AND ChinaUsing AND

  • narrows results
  • ALL terms must be in each search result

Note: in most, but not all, databases, the AND is implied. For example, Google automatically puts an AND in between search terms.

Example:  renewable energy AND China

Using ORVenn Diagram depicting the example search Renewable Energy OR Wind Or Solar

  • broadens results
  • searches for ANY of the terms in search results
  • connects similar concepts (synonyms)

Example:  renewable energy OR solar OR wind

Using NOTVenn Diagram depicting the search Peacekeeping NOT United Nations

  • narrows results
  • exclude words from search

This operator is great when you notice your search term is used in different disciplines. You might use this example when researching peacekeeping in the context of interpersonal conflict but your search results in documents about international conflict.

Example:  peacekeeping NOT United Nations

 

Adapted from SAIS Library, Johns Hopkins Univ. "Database Search Tips" Guide (no longer extant).

Use quotation marks or parentheses around search words to search for a phrase. Otherwise most databases will find records that include both terms, but not necessary the terms as a phrase.

Examples: 

"middle east"
"united nations peacekeeping forces"
"civil society"

Adapted from SAIS Library, Johns Hopkins Univ. "Database Search Tips" Guide