When database searching, once you have the search terms organised, there are a range of advanced searching tips which can be used to limit and be more precise in your search.
These include QUALIFYING terms to limit what you do/do not want:
- peer review articles
- full text articles only
- limiting by time frame
You can also limit by FIELD OPTIONS, which include:
- author
- title
- subject
- journal
TRUNCATION – is a search tip which enables you to include all words in your search that start with a particular base word. It assists with plurals, and other which have the same meaning.
For example the word ADOLESCENT
By using an asterisk sign at the ADOLESCEN* you will retrieve every word commencing with that base word, such as adolescent, adolescents, adolescency
WILDCARD SEARCHING – tells the database to look for different spellings of a single word. It uses a question mark ? at the point of a word where the spelling differs
For example – AUTHORI?E will retrieve authorise and authorize
COUNSEL?ING will retrieve counselling and counseling.
For more information on Advanced Searching Techniques, please refer to the Narrated PowerPoint – Advanced Searching Techniques.