RSCH 1203 Basic: Databases

1. Check your spelling.
2. Think of different ways to phrase your search (example: capital punishment or death penalty).
3. Limit your search to articles that are available in full text and that are scholarly or peer-reviewed.
4. Read the abstract of an article to get an idea of what it's about.
5. Use the subject descriptors to find more articles or to revise your search.

Remember different databases provide different types of materials. Some databases are general and some are subject-specific. It's important to select the right database for your subject. Librarians are always here to help!