Search tips and strategies

To get the most out of your database searches, a simple trick that can help you improve your search precision and accuracy is called “search operators”. It combines words and symbols, allowing you to highlight specific keywords and exclude others. By using these operators, you can conduct a more effective search.

Here are some examples of operators that you can use:

Boolean operators	Use Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT to control search results. Write them in uppercase. Follow left-to-right order for multiple operators.
AND	Use “AND” to retrieve results containing all search terms, regardless of their proximity within the record. For example: domestic AND abuse
OR	Use OR to broaden search results by combining similar keywords with similar meanings and retrieve results that contain any or all of the search terms. For example: abuse OR violence
NOT	To narrow down your search results and exclude irrelevant ones, use the word “NOT”. For example: abuse NOT men
Quotation marks	Enclose phrases in “double quotes” to find exact matches: “family violence”, “domestic abuse”. Try searching for a particular spelling of a word: “organise” instead of “organize” or vice versa
Parentheses	Parentheses (brackets) combine keywords, control boolean operator order, and focus search queries. For example: (family OR domestic) AND (abuse OR violence)
Truncation *	Use an asterisk to replace the ending of a word for broader search. For example: societ* = societal, society,  societies
Wildcard ?	To retrieve more records, use a question mark symbol to find alternative or additional letters within a keyword. For example: m?n = man and men
Synonyms	If the search terms used are not yielding the desired outcomes, try using alternative synonyms. For example: abuse = violence, misuse, exploit, mistreat, maltreat, maltreatment, ill treatment

Suggested search terms

• • • abused women
    • abusive men
    • domestic abuse
    • family violence
    • intimate partner violence
    • violence against women
    • battered women
    • emotional abuse
    • marital violence
    • spousal abuse
    • gendered-based violence

Searching for a specific title

When searching for a specific book or article, use only the title or the title and one author. Avoid pasting entire citations as this can lead to no records being found. Use quotation marks around the title if necessary. If you get too few results, try removing the quotation marks or using different search strategies such as the ones in the above table.

Filter or refine your results

Filters, also referred to as refiners or limiters, enable you to refine the scope of your search, particularly useful when dealing with a substantial number of results. Employing multiple filters simultaneously allows you to generate a highly specific list of results.

Examples of filter combinations:

• • • Available online + Books = eBooks
    • Available online + Videos = Videos available online through a library database
    • Articles + Peer-reviewed journals = Articles from peer reviewed journals

Filters can be eliminated by clicking on the X located at the end of each filter name. Alternatively, choose Reset filters to remove all filters.

Unable to find what you need

If you are unable to find any results, try the following tips:

• • • Check your spelling
    • Remove some words
    • Use fewer, more relevant keywords
    • Search by title only
    • Remove punctuation
    • Contact the library if needed.

How to contact us:

• • • Attend a digital skills workshop
    • Call us on 1800 808 303 Monday – Friday 9:30am – 5:00pm (local time)
    • Send us an email: libraries.tas@libraries.tas.gov.au
    • Visit any library for assistance
    • If your question requires research, use our research request form.

 

This page is adapted from Charles Sturt University’s search strategy website: