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Lesson 3:
Developing a Strategy

Objectives

Define a Topic

Brainstorm Search Terms

Build a Keyword Search

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Build a Keyword Search

Phrase Searching

Phrase searching is another search strategy that databases handle differently. Phrase searching allows you to search for multiple word phrases such as "motion pictures" or "college students". When you search for phrases, the database looks for the words right next to (adjacent to) each other.

Exact Phrases: "information literacy" "search engine" "social networking"

While some databases will automatically search for terms as a phrase if there is not an AND or OR in between, others require that you put phrases in quotes. But putting your phrases in quotes is virtually always acceptable, therefore always put phrases in quotes. (If it's not required by the database, it does no harm.)

Consider: Are there any phrases related to your topic that you might need to use quotations marks with?
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