When looking for information in international databases the starting point is considering the search terms and key terminology within the field. Using international databases requires search terms in English. Text books, dictionaries, encyclopedias or thesauruses can help you find suitable terms for your searches.
For more links to thesauruses and dictionaries in English, see the link below:
The following tutorial from Scribner Reference (2:10) presents an overview of choosing keywords and how subject terms can help your information search:
With the right search technique you can improve your chances of finding just the information you need. Boolean operators are often required when using scientific databases. Combine boolean operators, phrase search " " and truncation * to get better and more exact search results fast.
The three most common boolean operators are:
Watch the tutorial below (3:04) to learn more on these very useful search techniques:
Sometimes your searches retrieve too many or too few hits. This table helps you trouble shoot your searches:
| TOO MANY HITS |
TOO FEW HITS |
| Check the spelling | Check the spelling |
| Use more specific search words | Use more general search words |
| Do not use truncation | Use truncation |
| Delete synonyms (OR) | Add synonyms (OR) |
| Combine search words with AND / NOT | Delete search words combined with AND / NOT |
| Limit your search and filter according to e.g. language, type of material, publication year, country etc. | Do not use any limits or filters |
|
Is the database you are using the right one for your information need? Does it cover the field of interest? |
The tutorial below describes how to find a specific journal article from reference details (Hanken library, 2:31). Follow the link below to watch: