These tips can be used, in general, with the Library's OneSearch, databases, and on the open Web.
AND = Fewer results. All of your search terms must be found in the results. EXAMPLE: heat stress AND chickens. You could also just type: heat stress chickens.
OR = More results. Any one or more of your search terms must be found in a result. EXAMPLE: Rambouillet OR Suffolk.
NOT = Fewer results. Word(s) must be excluded from the results. EXAMPLE: NOT review. The word "review" would be excluded.
Find words that appear in a particular order. Type the words in order between quotation marks. EXAMPLE 1: "nutritional requirement" EXAMPLE 2: "video image analysis"
Databases follow commands you type in and return results based on those commands. Be aware of the logical order in which words are connected when using Boolean operators:
Examples:
Your topic or research question could potentially be too broad, returning a large number of irrelevant results. Since most topics involve multiple aspects and different contexts, you may need to narrow your topic to find acceptable resources. When narrowing a topic, make sure your new search still reflects the main idea.
Here are some techniques to help narrow your topic.
Technique | Description | Search Example | Less Results |
---|---|---|---|
Quotations | Add quotations around two or more keywords to create a specific search phrase | social justice | "social justice" |
Add a Focus | Too broad of a topic will retrieve too many results. Add a focus to reduce the number. | “oil wells” AND construction | “oil wells” AND construction AND Texas |
Use Boolean Term NOT | Excluding a keyword or phrase from searching will remove any articles referring to that topic. | ethics AND “alternative medicine” | ethics AND “alternative medicine” NOT acupuncture |
Add Keywords | The more keywords you add, the fewer results you will get. | “rap music” | “rap music” AND gender |
If you returned too few results, your topic or research question could be too narrow or specific to find enough information. You may need to broaden your topic to find acceptable resources.
Here are some techniques to help broaden your topic.
Technique | Description | Search Example | More Results |
---|---|---|---|
Check Spelling | Unlike many search engines, databases will not correct a misspelled word. | “intrest rates” AND inflation | “interest rates” AND inflation |
Reduce Keywords | The more keywords you have, the lower number of results you will retrieve. | bees AND honey AND pollination AND food AND Florida | bees AND pollination AND food |
Try Synonyms | Replace keywords with different words that have the same or similar meaning. | females AND “relationship abuse” | women AND “relationship abuse” |
Try Related Terms | Use keywords that are related to your topic, but not exactly the same. | universities AND “academic achievement” | “higher education” AND “academic achievement” |
Add Boolean Term OR | Add OR between synonyms or related terms to expand results. | advertising AND children | advertising AND (children OR teenagers) |
Change the Focus | Too narrow of a focus will produce fewer results. | “Seminole County” AND habitat AND “black bears” | Florida AND habitat AND “black bears" |
Truncation | Add an asterisk(*) to the end of a root word to expand search | education | educat* (education, educated, educator, etc.) |
Search the open Web more effectively with the links and tips below. Keep in mind that many online sources are plagiarized or of questionable quality. When using online sources, ask yourself the following questions:
Who is the author? -- What are her/his credentials? -- What possible biases exist? -- When was this source published?
Here's how you change your settings in Google to connect the library resources.
Visit scholar.google.com
1. Click on the drop down button located on the left hand side.
2. Select "Settings"
In Settings:
1. Click on "Library Links"
2. In the search box, enter "Cal Poly Pomona" and select the search button.
3. Select "Cal Poly Pomona - Find It Cal Poly Pomona"
4. Save your settings by clicking "Save"
Doing a search, you will notice on the right-hand side, "Find It Cal Poly Pomona" appears. This is to let you know that Cal Poly Pomona University Library might have access to the article/book.