PHYC11: Intermediate Physics Laboratory II

To search effectively, find the keywords (which are the main ideas) for your research topic. Why? Most search tools don’t understand natural language (i.e. sentences), so searching with keywords can help you find articles on your topic

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Use Boolean modifiers such as phrase searching, truncation, and wildcards to make your search more effective and find more sources on your topic.

Keyword Searching:  Essentially taking your best guess at the terms which will appear in articles on your topic. This can be an effective search strategy, however, you may get a number of irrelevant results if the keywords you chose appear in irrelevant articles. You also never know if you've found all the articles on your topic. 

Descriptor/Subject Searching:  Descriptors or subject headings are the controlled vocabulary (or tags) used within a database to organize material.  If you can find the right descriptors for your topic, you can focus your search on relevant articles and be sure that you've found everything on your topic.

1. Check your spelling: Google your keywords to make sure you spelled them correctly.  Your search will not work if your keywords aren't spelled properly.
    
2. Too many results?  Add keywords to focus your search results. Check your course notes or look at your current search results for more ideas on focusing your search.
    
3. Too few results?  Take keywords away to broaden your search.
    
4. Try descriptors or subject headings:  Using the database's own vocabulary (descriptors or subject headings) can often vastly improve your search.  Ask your librarian for assistance if needed.