Step 5:  Search Strategically

Some reference databases (e.g., ERIC and PsycInfo) have specialized thesauri or subject lists. Use the database thesaurus or subject list to translate your concepts and keywords into the language of the database.

If the database allows you to combine retrieval sets, search for one concept at a time. You will have a separate retrieval set for each concept. Use Boolean operators, AND, OR, and NOT, to combine search sets or subject terms.  

Enclose phrases in quotes. Use the truncation symbol specified for each database (usually "*") to retrieve variant forms of a word:

(journalist* OR author*) AND (publisher* OR newspaper*) AND "digital copyright" 

"digital copyright" NOT music

Save the retrieval sets that relate directly to your topic statement. Print relevant full text articles or save them to a disk. For information on locating printed books and articles, click on Find Books or Find Articles.

Assets: subject terms | search statements | retrieval sets | books

Click on Evaluate Sources to continue.