The document provides guidance on developing effective search strategies, including thinking of multiple keyword possibilities, using a thesaurus to expand keywords, discussing topics with others, and using Boolean logic and search tricks like phrase searching and truncation to refine results. It also recommends speaking to a librarian if you have any questions or frustrations during the research process.

1. Search Strategies
Before You Start

2. Keywords
Think of all Possibilities
Intercultural Ideas: Intergenerational Ideas
• Haiti, Haitian, Haitians • Great Depression
• Culture • 1930s
• Customs • Greatest generation
• Social life • G.I. generation
• Other words, phrases • Dust bowl
related to what you • Other words, phrases
would like to focus on. related to what you
would like to focus on.

3. Keywords (Search Words)
Use a thesaurus / subject guide
These can give you ideas for additional
keywords or phrases.

4. Keywords (Search Words)
Talk to others (friends, family, instructors,
librarians…)

5. Begin Searching
Use your keywords in different combinations.
Watch for more words and phrases that could
be useful. (Often you stumble upon great
words during
your search!

6. Search Tricks
• No matter where you search:
– Library Databases
– The Library Catalog
– The Internet
• Many of these “tricks” will apply.

7. Boolean Searching
holidays traditions holidays
traditions
AND = All results about traditions and holidays OR = Results on either traditions or
holidays (not necessarily both)
traditions holidays
Not = Results on traditions, but not if
they mention holidays.

8. A sample search screen:
The article must include the phrase,
“day of the dead”
Plus, it must include at least one of these words/phrases:
mexico – mexican – “latin america”
But if recipes are mentioned, then those articles should
not be included!

9. Phrases
• Are you looking for words appearing together?
– Put the words “in quotes” to find that exact
phrase!

10. Look for Limiting Options
The Catalog…
Other library
databases…
And even with web search
engines like Google!

11. Truncation/Wildcard Symbols
Use symbols to search for various forms of a
word. (Symbols may be different in different
databases!)
Example: haiti* Example: wom?n
• Haiti • woman
• Haitian • women
• Haitians

12. Limit your Fields
• Limit where you are searching if you need to
narrow or increase your results.

13. Frustration?
ASK US!
Visit the library and speak to
the librarian at the reference
desk.
Make an appointment with a
librarian.
Call or e-mail.