Searching Tips for Magazines, Journals, & Newspapers
General Searching Tips
1.Select the databases depending on your subject.
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2.Choose your search words or terms. Use different terms to
find different results.
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(Example: laughter and medicine, humor and health)
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Look at other subject heading and search terms in the databases.
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3.Check search tips for the individual databases. See what
search techniques they support.
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4.Do a subject search for broad topics.
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Under broad topics you will find narrower topics.
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5.Do a keyword search for more specific topics.
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Use the search techniques below for more precise searches
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Record your research activities with a research log. The process of
researching is just as important as the product.
Handout of Research Log in PDF
Search Techniques for more Specific searches
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Phrase Searching: Searches a phrase or words that have a
unique meaning when linked. Use quotes "" or parenthesis ( ) to link
the words.
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(Example: "medicinal herbs" or (medicinal herbs)
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Connectors - Boolean Searching :
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AND: Narrows your search to include documents that contain
both keywords.
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(Example: laughter and medicine)
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NOT: Narrows search by excluding words.
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(Example: laughter AND NOT jokes)
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OR: Broadens the search to include ANY of the keywords.
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(Example: (laughter or humor) )
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Nesting: Use a Combination of Boolean Searching
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(Example: (laughter or humor) and medicine)
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Truncation: Searches on the root of the word adding
different endings and plurals.
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(Example:
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* Searches - medicine, medicines, medical...)
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