How do I use the Library Databases?
You can access the Library Databases through the A-Z Database Guide (try filtering by subject area!) or use the suggested Databases in the 'Resource recommendations' section of this guide.
Searching a database is a little different to searching Google. You will need to use some specific techniques to retrieve relevant and suitable content and it's always a good idea to plan out your search strategy before you start using the databases.
Planning your search
Before you begin looking for resources for your assessment or research, focus on planning your search strategy. A small amount of time now will save you time and frustration later.
Click on each of the steps below to learn more.
Start searching
You can use the search planner to make notes about your topic, search terms and to plan a search strategy.
Combine your Keywords with some Database Search Techniques
Once you’ve chosen your keywords, join them together using search techniques to create a search strategy. Use the tabs below to learn about some common database search techniques.
Phrase searching narrows a search to show results that contain an exact phrase.
This is useful when you want to search for a certain string of words.
To conduct a phrase search, add double quotation marks around two or more words you want to search for.
For example: searching for "built environment" will only return records that contain this exact term. The search will not return results where the word 'built' or 'environment' appear alone.
Truncation searching broadens a search to show results that include words with variation.
To conduct a truncation search, use an asterisk character * to signify where the variation should exist.
Use this when you want to show results that include words with different endings. For example, searching for project* will return records that contain any of these words: 'project', 'projects', 'projection', 'projector', etc.
Truncation can also be useful when spelling variations exist. For example, searching for organi*ation will return records that contain either of these words: 'organisation', 'organization'.
Truncation searching is sometimes referred to as wildcard searching or stemming.
Boolean searching is a type of search that allows users to combine keywords with operators (such as AND, OR, NOT) to produce more relevant results
Using the word AND between two search terms narrows a search to show results containing both terms.
Conversely, using the word OR between two terms broadens a search to show results containing either term.
Using NOT will narrow your search by excluding certain results from your search, however as the video on the next tab shows it should be used with care as this technique can remove relevant results.
Video: Database Search Techniques
Architecture search example
Below is an example showing how you can combine boolean, phrase searching and truncation techniques to look for information about Glenn Murcutt, nature and architecture.
Click the + icons to reveal more information about the searching techniques used.
Activity overview
This interactive activity shows an image of the Library advanced search bars filled in with an example search as follows:
"Glenn Murcutt"
AND Nature OR Environment
AND Architect*
There are 3 selectable icons that explain each of the search techniques used in this advanced search.
Technique 1: Phrase searching
Phrase searching narrows a search to show results that contain an exact phrase, not just individual words.
To conduct a phrase search, add double quotation marks around two or more words you want to search for.
Technique 2: Boolean operators
Boolean searching is a type of search that allows users to combine keywords with operators to produce more relevant results
- Using the word AND between two search terms narrows a search to show results containing both terms.
- Using the word OR between two terms broadens a search to show results containing either term.
In this example Nature OR Environment will find results that contain either of those terms.
Technique 3: Truncation
Truncation searching broadens a search to show results that include alternative word endings. To conduct a truncation search, use an asterisk character *
In this example, the asterisk at the end of the word Architect* will search for all word endings - i.e. architect , architects, architecture, architectural
To learn more, watch the video What are boolean operators?
Database Tips
I'm not finding many relevant resources; how can I find more?
To increase your search results, you can apply some of the strategies outlined below:
Join similar terms with OR, for example:
university OR higher education to ensure either term appears in your results
Use a ? to replace a character in a word to find different spellings or endings, for example:
organi?ation will find both organisation and organization
Use the truncation symbol at the end of your terms to find variant endings. The truncation symbol is usually the asterisk * for example:
- account* will find account, accounts, accountant, accounting
- teach* will find teach, teacher, teaching
- Australia* will find Australia, Australian, Australians
I'm finding too many resources; how can I narrow my search?
To narrow your search results, you can apply some of the strategies outlined below:
Join different concepts or ideas with AND, for example:
primary students and mathematics skills to ensure both terms appear in your results.