Literature Reviews

Article databases, online library catalogs, and many popular search engines share several general searching techniques. Once you master these common searching techniques, you will save yourself time and find more relevant results.

Keep in mind that not all databases and search engines interpret searches in the same way. It's a good habit to review the database Help pages before you search so you know what searching techniques to use.

See more tips on starting your research on our How To Guide.

You can create complex search strategies by combining keywords using the linking words AND, OR and NOT. For example, if your search terms are related to math curriculum:

AND: Narrows and focuses the search results. The search mathematics AND curriculum will bring only results where both the terms mathematics and curriculum are present.

OR: Broadens the search results. Using mathematics OR curriculum will bring results where the term mathematics is present, or results where curriculum is present. OR is useful if you have more than one way to refer to a concept.

NOT: Excludes certain terms from your search results. Use with caution, you might miss something.

Some Examples

• AND rural
• elementary OR primary
• NOT "english language learners"

If you are searching for a phrase, keep in mind that not all databases will search multiple words automatically as a phrase.

To find two or more words together in the same order, use quotation marks around them.

Some Examples

• "screen time"
• "early childhood"
• "postpartum depression"

Using truncation symbols allows you to expand your results by including various endings for a search term. Most databases will designate a non-alphabetical symbol, such as an asterisk, as a truncation symbol. Using the truncation symbol at the end of the root word will bring back results that include any ending of that root word.

Some Examples

• child* = child, child's, children's, children, childhood
• theat* = theater, theatre, theaters, theatrical