Political Science: Search Strategies

When searching the databases, if you get too many results:

• Be more specific with your search terms
  • Select narrower, more specific search terms
  • Add additional search terms and use the Boolean operator AND to connect the terms
  • Use quotation marks to search for phrases
  • Use subject headings instead of keywords
• Utilize the search limiters
  • Search specific fields, such as Title, Author, Abstract, etc.
  • Limit to a specific date or date range
  • Limit to certain types of publications
  • Limit to certain geographic locations
• Search a subject-specific database
  • Instead of searching in the very large, multidisciplinary databases, search in a smaller subject-specific one

When searching with two or more terms, use Boolean operators to refine your search.

Combining search terms with the AND operator will:

• Reduce the number of results
• Make the search focus more specifically on your topic

Combining search terms with the OR operator will:

• Expand your search and increase number of results
• Give your search flexibility to find alternate terms

Combining search terms with the NOT operator will:

• Decrease your search results
• Increase the relevancy of your results by telling the search to exclude certain terms

When searching the databases, if you are not getting back enough relevant results:

• Modify your search terms
  • Is everything spelled correctly?
  • Find alternative term that would work (example: teens instead of adolescents)
  • Select terms that are more broad (example: Midwest instead of Indiana).  
  • If you used multiple search terms, try reducing the number of terms. For example, if you used the Boolean connector AND, try using OR to include similar terms.
  • Try using a truncation symbol to give the search flexibility
• Remove search limiters
• Make sure you are searching in a appropriate database
  • Try searching in a large, multidisciplinary database like Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, or Google Scholar.
• Take a break and try again later. 
• If you are still struggling, ask a librarian!  

Truncation

Truncation allows you to find alternate endings for your search term. Shorten your search term to its base or root form, then add a truncation symbol to the end of your term.

Note: truncation symbols vary by search tool.

For example: 

• Teen* will bring back results with teen, teens, teenaged, teenager, etc.
• Child* will bring back results with child, children, childhood, child's, etc.

Quotation Marks

If your search terms include a phrase or title, use quotation marks to show the search engine that you want the terms to be found together. The search will look for exactly what you place in the quotation marks.