Because databases are highly structured, you need to use special techniques to search them effectively. When you want to find more than one word or idea, you need to enter your search in a way that the database will understand.

Consider this tip: Think of the nouns related to your topic. These will usually be better keywords to search than adjectives, prepositions, or pronouns. For example, rather than searching for "effects of affirmative action on college admission decisions" you should try combining the main ideas, such as: "affirmative action AND college AND admission".

The connector words AND and OR are important to use when you combine ideas. You may also hear people refer to them as Boolean Operators. The following pages will show you how to successfully search using these two terms.