The brief videos and tutorials on this page show how to choose the best keywords, refine a search, and evaluate the information you find. There is also information explaining what a "peer reviewed" article is and teaching you to build more effective searches.
“And”, “Or”, “Not” (Boolean Operators): Use the words to narrow or expand your search results. For Example:
Use an * at the end of a root word to find all variations of that word. For example, child* will search for child, children, childhood, and children's.
Brainstorm words or concepts that are similar in meaning and use those as additional search terms connected by OR. For example:
college students OR undergraduates OR university students
climate change OR global warming OR greenhouse effect
If you find a good resource, look at the “Subject Headings” or “Descriptors” listed and use those as additional search terms.
Bibliographies/References/Works Cited pages are great ways to find additional resources. You can search the library’s Catalogs and/or Databases to find copies of the sources cited in an article or book that was perfectly on topic for you.
Choosing and Using Keywords (tutorial)
Refining Search Results (video)
Evaluating Information (tutorial)
How to Read Scholarly Materials (tutorial)