Library Homepage: Research 101: Planning a Search

A-Z List of Databases

Click here to access the A-Z List of Databases. This is where you will find the licensed library content: scholarly journal articles, dissertations & theses, ebooks, multimedia and more. The Librarians recommend starting your research in ProQuest Central. Questions? Contact us for help at: askthelibrarian@usuniversity.edu

Effective Searching

Planning a search strategy

start with an appropriate database in the A-Z list of databases (linked in the page footer)
the librarians recommend starting with the ProQuest Central collection
go to the Advanced Search page
break the topic into keywords and short phrases
enclose phrases in quotation marks to keep words together
make sure the full text box is checked
use other search options as necessary

Effective Searches

Using Truncation - requires fewer searches

Use truncation when there is a common root prefix.

child* = child, childish, children
combine with your topic in a search

Using Proximity - increases the relevancy

Place phrases in quotation marks to keep the words together in a search,

"United States"
"Climate Change"\

Using Brackets - links similar terms in one search with OR

Use when you have synonyms and alternate terms

("nutrition* education" OR "dietetics education")

An effective search uses:

keywords and phrases linked with AND/OR/NOT
search, field and results limiters
proximity quotes “ ”
truncation symbols*
alternate keywords (synonyms)
brackets ( ) to link terms and phrases