There are several advantages in using a research database to find full-text journal articles on your topic.
| Strategy | Function |
| Keywords |
A keyword search is where you enter any terms you develop that describe your topic. The database will retrieve results based on the exact terms you enter. Some databases will map those keywords to more specific subject headings. Keyword searching is very flexible and is the best way to begin a search, especially if you are unsure of the correct terminology to use. As you begin reading through your results, you may notice trends and patterns in terminology (including other keywords or more precise subject headings/controlled vocabulary) that you can then apply as you revise your search strategy. Typically retrieves several results, although some may not be relevant to your topic as keyword searching does not always take into consideration the context of search terms. VIDEO TUTORIALS: CINAHL Basic Searching | EBSCOhost Basic Searching |
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Subject Headings (also known as "controlled vocabulary") |
A targeted, precise, and specific way to search using a database's built-in controlled vocabulary. Various databases have their own subject headings - i.e. CINAHL Headings in CINAHL and the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) in MEDLINE/PubMed. Controlled vocabulary subject headings function like a thesaurus and will take into consideration synonyms, related terms, narrower terms, broader terms, abbreviations, and variations in spelling. Typically retrieves fewer results than keyword searching (although not always - it depends on the topic), and results are oftentimes more relevant. VIDEO TUTORIALS: CINAHL & MeSH Subject Headings | PubMed Subject Searching |
| Boolean Operators |
Boolean operators provide a logical way to combine keyword or subject heading terms using AND, OR, or NOT AND will narrow your search by combining two or more terms together cancer AND fatigue AND exercise will retrieve results with all of those terms OR will broaden your search by retrieving results on any of the terms you enter empathy OR compassion OR sympathy will retrieve results with any of those terms NOT will exclude designated terms from your results immunodeficiency NOT HIV will retrieve results with the term immunodeficiency but exclude articles that mention HIV VIDEO TUTORIALS: CINAHL Advanced Searching | PubMed Advanced Search Builder |
| Truncation/Stemming |
Use of an asterisk * after the root of a word will search for various word endings nurs* will find nurse, nurses, nursing anesth* will find anesthesiology, anesthetist, anesthesiologist |
| Phrase Searching |
Use of quotes around words will retrieve results with that exact phrase. For example: "Algase Wandering Scale" "mindfulness-based stress reduction" "animal-assisted therapy" |
| Nesting |
Use of parentheses will group desired search terms together in combination with appropriate Boolean operators in a single search box (dementia OR "Alzheimer* disease") AND ("fall prevention" OR "fall risk assessment") This search will find results on dementia AND either fall prevention OR fall risk assessment It will also find results on Alzheimer disease (or Alzheimer's disease) AND either fall prevention OR fall risk assessment |
| Limits/Filters |
After conducting a search in a database, you can narrow and refine your search results by applying limiters or filters. These options vary from database to database. Limiters and filters for narrowing your results are often located along the left side of your database search results page. Select appropriate limiters/filters that are relevant to your topic or your information need. Common options include publication date, type of article, age group, gender, peer-reviewed, etc. |