Search Tips
Good searching can shorten your research time significantly. Here are some tips from the pros:
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Use quotation marks around a phrase to inform the search engine to look for exactly the phrase you enter- for example "public health" or "wildlife management".
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When searching for a keyword with multiple variations (ex. "education", "educators") use the root form of the word and add an asterisk (*). This means using educat* will retrieve items that have all variations-- "education", "educators", etc.
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Be specific: consider addition search terms or filters to help narrow your search results
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Use the built-in database filters to focus your results- most interfaces let you limit by publication date, subject, format and more
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Finally, ZSR Librarians are here to help you find the best sources for your research assignment!
"Pre-Research": Getting Started with Background Sources
Before getting started with research, it is a good idea to start with some background and context to the issues you are investigating. The informative sources below will help you get to that information quickly.
- Gale eBooks This link opens in a new windowSearch across hundreds of subject encyclopedias and other reference works. A great place to find background information on almost any research topic. Includes a topic finder for help with narrowing or broadening your research topic. Coverage: varies
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowSearch across hundreds of subject encyclopedias and other reference works. A great place to find background information on almost any research topic. Includes subject trees, pro/con resources, links to scholarly articles and more.
- SAGE Reference This link opens in a new windowProvides access to ebook versions of encyclopedias and handbooks in the social and behavioral sciences.
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new windowContains reports and analysis on issues in the news including health, social trends and issues, criminal justice, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. Great resource for background information on current news, hot topics, and social issues. Coverage back to 1923. Coverage: 1991-
Advanced Search Tips
Use the operator AND to find only sources that include both keywords. This search will bring back fewer results than searching either keyword on its own.
Use the OR operator to expand your search with additional keywords. This will find sources that include either word, so you'll see more results than by searching for just one keyword.
Use “QUOTES” around your search phrases. This will bring back results that only use that exact phrase.
Additionally, if you are retrieving results that are closely associated with your search phrases, but not relevant to your topic, then you can use the NOT operator to exclude these phrases from your search.
