Use quotation marks around a phrase to retrieve results that include the exact phrase - for example "body image" or "genetic engineering" or "third culture kid".
When searching for a keyword with multiple variations (ex. "child", "children", "childhood", etc.) use the root form of the word with an asterisk (the little * symbol). Using child* will retrieve all keyword variations-- child, children, childhood.
Be specific: A search for child* and media and violence is much better than one for TV violence
Use the built-in database filters to limit your search results! - most interfaces let you limit by publication date, subject, format and more. These features will help you hone your search strategy to find the most relevant sources!
If you are having difficulty at any point in the research process, your friendly ZSR Librarians are here to help!
Before getting started with research, it is a good idea to start with some background and context to the issues you are investigating. The sources below will help you get to that information quickly AND they can help you focus your research topic!