Get Started with Basic Research

A database's search engine does not work like Google. 

This means that you cannot type your entire research question/topic in the search box.

Instead, you must pull out the keywords that describe your topic and search only those keywords (or related terms).

Example research question:

• How does ocean pollution affect coral reefs?
• How does ocean pollution affect coral reefs?

• And - narrows search
  • Finds results that contain all the keywords
  • Examples:
    • "peanut butter" AND jelly
    • ocean AND pollution
• Or - broadens search
  • Finds results that contain either of the keywords
  • Examples:
    • jelly OR jam
    • ocean OR marine
• Not - narrows search
  • Eliminates a keyword from the results
  • Examples:
    • jelly NOT jam
    • pollution NOT plastic

• Successful Research Process
  
  
• ReSEARCH
  (look in the "How to Use" column, under "Search Strategies" for videos)