Start Small! Begin with just one or a few search terms. Add additional terms if you have too many results.
Use good search terms. Use terms that are more specific. Do not use OR between terms that mean different things (for example, do not search [women OR salary]
Too few search terms. If you only have one general term in the search box, consider adding another word that expressed what aspect of that term you are interested in.
Use limiters. Limiters (such as date, format, language of publication) give you more targeted results.
Topic is too broad. Narrow the scope of your search. Think about the different aspects of your topic you will address and search for them separately. Then synthesize the information. You may need to narrow your topic if it is too large to cover in a short paper.
Is this the best database for your topic? If you are using a subject-specific database (Education, Psychology, etc), try a multidisciplinary database like Academic Search Complete or a specialized search engine like Google Scholar. Be prepared to try several different databases. If you need a subject-specific database, look at the Subject Guides or Course Guides.
Use good search terms. Check spelling and brainstorm synonyms or related terms. You can use OR between synonyms (for example: salary OR pay OR compensation).
Too many search terms. If you have three or more search terms, try removing one to see if your results improve.
Too many limiters. Use only limiters that are absolutely necessary.
Your topic is too narrow. What is the broader theme of your topic? Break your topic down and search for different parts separately. For example, if you are comparing primary school education in China and Spain, search for articles about each country separately. Then synthesize the information you find.
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