No matter what database you use to locate materials for your research, there are certain strategies that you can use in designing your searches, which will help you conduct effective searches on your research topic.
AND - combines terms; narrows and focuses search ex.: california and drought
OR - used between synonyms or related terms, broadens search by supplying more options ex.: river or stream
NOT - excludes terms from search, narrows and focuses search ex.: lake not ocean
TRUNCATION - symbol used at end of word or word part to retrieve variant word endings; adds flexibility and depth to your search ex: geograph? retrieves: geography, geographer, geographic, geographical, etc.
PHRASE SEARCHING - Generally, in databases, put phrases in quotes: ex.: "drinking water"
