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Steps to writing a paper (NEW): 6. Researching +

It might be easy to begin your research with Google or Wikipedia, but there are better resources for your college projects. It's a good idea to start with the library databases. By doing this, you'll find trustworthy articles and sources that meet your instructor's requirements. Things to keep in mind when using databases:

  • Make sure you searching the right database(s) for your topic
  • Use Boolean search techniques (Keywords + Boolean operators)
  • Modify initial searches

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How to Search Databases

Keywords - are the terms you are going to use as search terms; it is important to develop a list of keywords before you start searching in a database.

"Choose and Using Keywords" by PfauLibrary, John M. Pfau Library is licensed under CC BY 3.0

Boolean operators - are the terms that go between keywords when performing a search. The three Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT are used to narrow or broaden your search results.

  • AND - using the "AND" operator between two or more search terms will pull up results that include all of the search terms.
  • OR - using the "OR" operator between two or more search terms will pull up results that include at least one of the search terms
  • NOT - using the "NOT" operator before a search term will filter out that term from the search results.

" Online Research: Tips for Effective Search Strategies " by Sarah Clark is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

The information in this box is an abbreviated form of the information in the How to Search Databases guide. View the full guide if you need more clarity or contact a librarian.

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Choosing the Right Database

Other Useful Resources