Apply a Controlled Vocabulary
Many disciplines use language in a very specific way. Check to see if there is a subject specific thesaurus and use search terms from this list
See the page on Synonyms in this guide for more information
Take Advantage of Your Best Search Result
- Click on or search the "Subject" terms attached to the record of one good article or book
- Use the bibliography and works cited to find additional sources
- Use Google Scholar to find related articles and others who have cited your good search result
Narrow Your Search Strategy
- Use only the most important words and phrases that describe your topic
- Ignore common words that do not have a lot of meaning
- Look for your search words in the "Title" or "Subject" fields only
Talk to Experts
Ask topic specialists who are well versed in your discipline for search term suggestions: