ENG 110 Thoune: How to Search

1. Think about your topic and search terms.

1. Ask yourself, “What do I want to know?”
2. Identify your key terms
3. Make a list of synonyms for each term
4. Imagine the title of an article or two related to your subject and search for terms within those titles
5. Think of terms to avoid

2. Select the most appropriate databases

1. For thorough research, use Health Source: Nursing, ERIC and other databases found on the Articles & Databases tab.
2. Remember, by using the Murphy Library version of ERIC and other databases, you can benefit from our GetText network of internal links to full text. You will not get these benefits by searching free internet versions of these databases.
3. For additional, broader research use some of the databases found at the Most Popular Databases page.

3. Try a variety of searches

1. Don't try just one search. Try many different approaches with different search terms until you find relevant results
2. Refer to the Searching Online: Principles and Specifics (PDF) guide as well as other library guides for specifics.
3. Try simple, one or two word searches first. 
4. Include synonyms in your searches, putting parentheses around synonyms. Example: (stress or anxiety) and management
5. If you are not getting enough results, use the * to finish a word. For example, universit* will return, university and universities.
6. Look for clickable subject headings, which find all articles that have been labeled as relating to that subject heading.

4. Look for the full text of your articles

1. When you find a citation to an article, look for a link to full text.
    
2. Most UW-L databases are cross linked, allowing you to find the full text of an article in another database without doing a separate search. Click on the Find It! icon for this functionality.
3. Enter the name of a specific periodical in Search@UW. This may lead you to the full text of the periodical in one of the many full text databases at Murphy Library.
4. Use Murphy Library ILLiad Interlibrary Loan service for items not available in your local libraries.

5. Get help

1. Contact the library Reference Desk. Call (608) 785-8508, (800) 881-4454, email refemail@uwlax.edu or use the Ask A Librarian online form.
2. Set up an Individual Research Consultation