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Search for Articles: Databases

When to Use Databases

A subject-specific database is useful if Internet searching or Library Search are returning too many irrelevant results. Subject-specific databases allow for refinement and filtering that is more relevant to your subject area. 

Advanced Database Search Strategies

Subjects

Subject terms describe what the content is about. Searching with subjects will retrieve fewer results than keyword searching, but they are potentially more relevant. 

Each database has its own subject terms. Browse for subjects in the database that match your topic. Look for a button or link that says Subjects, Index, or Thesaurus. Check the Help screens for how to add these to your search.

Another way is to look at the Subject or Descriptor field in a highly relevant result to note the terms used. The subject term should be clickable to run a new search with that subject.

The subject index is linked from the tap navigation on a database. Subjects also appear in the individual records.

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