How do I choose keywords for my searches?
- Words to include
For a biology research project, you would want to include the main concepts from your topic
- Use quotation marks
If any of the concepts are longer than one word, you can optimize your search by putting quotation marks around them. Using quotation marks will ensure that the database finds results that use that exact phrase.
- Use AND
To search for several concepts, you need to link your search terms with AND. This strategy will narrow your search.
- Use OR
To search for similar concepts, use OR between search terms. This strategy will broaden your search.
"genetically modified organisms" AND ( policy OR regulations)
Found too many results?
- Add more keywords
If you find that you are retrieving too many results, try adding more keywords to further narrow your topic.
"genetically modified organisms" AND policy AND agriculture
Found too few results?
- Look for more general information
If you try to search for too many concepts at once, you might not find enough information. Try removing some of the keywords from your search statement to increase your results.