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How can I improve my search?

Did you retrieve what you needed? If not, here is a checklist of questions to guide you in modifying your search:

1. Try looking at an irrelevant record you retrieved. Can you figure out why the database gave it to you? Did you use one word the computer misunderstood? See if you can use a more specific term or short phrase that excludes the meaning you don't want. Try adding a new term which makes your old term more specific.

   Instead of:	japan and economy
   Try:	japan and economy and (auto or automobile or car)

2. It's not enough to just match search terms; the match must be in a useful field of the record, like Subject or Title. Look for the Advanced Search option in the database and search for your terms only in specific fields.

3. Use limiters when they're available. Will the database let you ask for publications only in English? Can you ask for only journal articles? Is there a subject heading that covers your topic? Can you get rid of book and film reviews? Play around with your options and see if they help.

1. Did you spell your search terms correctly? Research databases don't come equipped with spell checkers. One misspelled word can sink an entire search query. Check a dictionary.

2. Get rid of long phrases. When you type in a phrase, you are demanding that all the words appear in exactly that order before the database will give you anything.

   Instead of:	dicrimination against ethnic chinese in vietnam
   Try:	discrimination and ethnic chinese and vietnam

3. Try using alternative terms. Put your vocabulary to use. Don't forget truncation or wildcards for variant forms of a word.

4. Every so often, it happens that there's very little written on a topic. Try broader terms for the idea you need.

   Very narrow:	recombinant DNA and sheep
   Narrow:	cloning and animals
   Broader:	genetic engineering and animal*
   Very broad:	genetic* and animal*