Search filters are:
- also known as hedges
- pre-cooked search strings that are designed to limit search results
- designed to be highly-sensitive, precise, or a balance of both
Commonly, search filters limit search results by:
- age group
- publication type
- study design
They are sometimes available at the click of a button in library databases, but don't let that deceive you! A lot of work goes into developing an effective search strategy for filters, and they often include various combinations of subject headings, textwords, and wildcards.
NOTE: Use filters with caution!
Many search filters are interface-specific and only available for certain databases. Some filters have been validated; many have not.
