Constructing a good search can save you a lot of time and effort. By creating better searches, you can eliminate many irrelevant hits. The following search tips and strategies can help you find more relevant information.
Phrase Searching - Putting "quotes" around your search words tells the database that you are looking for that exact phrase.
Example: "victim impact" OR "criminal justice system"
Use Appropriate Domains - Use domains like .org, .edu, .gov and/or .mil when searching on Google with your topic.
Example: "victim impact" site:.gov OR "victim impact" site:.edu OR "victim impact" site:.org
Note the number & quality of results you get for each of your searches.
Try Different Wording (synonyms) - Think of different words that describe your topic.
- Example: criminal Try: offender
Try a Broader Search - Sometimes you might choose keywords that are overly specific. Try to think of a broader term that includes your topic. The more general the search, more results are likely.
- Example: criminal justice system Try: judiciary OR "judicial system"
Look for Limiters - Search tools often present options for limiting by date or range of dates, full-text or specific format, publication type, etc. Look for advanced search options to find search features that may not be obvious at first.