CRE101: CRE101

Search Tips

• Consider broad keywords and phrases and more specific keywords
  • vaccines --> vaccine skepticism
  • web design ---> cybersecurity
  • healthcare --> medicaid
• Types of content
  • Viewpoints, News, Magazines, etc
    • Research the reputation and/or bias of the writer or publisher.
• Use the email and citation features in the database.  Also refer to the citation guide. 

Search statements tell the database what to find. Combine your keywords strategically to find specific information. You may need to create a few different search statements to find all the information you need. 

Example search statements:

1. "vaccine hesitancy" AND COVID-19
2. anti-vaccination AND measles
3. "Centers for Disease Control" AND "vaccine safety"

Tips:

• Keywords should be single words or specific phrases.
• Join each keyword or phrase together using AND
• Use quotation marks around specific phrases 
• Try different combinations of keywords if needed
• Read the search statement. Does it include the relevant terms for what you are looking for? 

Identify Keywords

Use the background articles and your knowledge of the topic to identify relevant keywords and search terms.  This will help you to find relevant information when searching the library's discovery service for articles. 

What makes a good keyword?

• Specific words and phrases. Avoid unnecessary words like how, are, for, cause and should. Focus on the main ideas of your topic. 
• Synonyms and related terminology
  • vaccine skepticism --> vaccine hesitancy
  • anti-vaccination 
  • vaccine safety
• Specific examples
  • measles
  • Covid-19
• Names of relevant organizations or people
  • Centers for Disease Control
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Search each search statement in OneSearch.

Search Tips

• Include quotation marks around exact phrases.
• Use the options on the left side of the results page to refine your list.
  • Resource Type
  • Publication Date
• Use the email and citation options
• Refine keywords and search statements as needed.