Searching is not a linear process, and you will find that you need to adapt and change your search as you go. What works well in one database may not work well in another, so it's a good idea to keep a record of your searches and search strings to help you see what is working best. Below are examples of searches using some of the search strategies discussed earlier.
Search example: |
Strategies used: |
"school aged children" AND Australia AND diet |
Boolean
|
("school aged children" OR social) AND Australia AND (diet OR nutrition) |
Boolean, Grouping/nesting |
("school aged children" AND Australia AND (diet* OR nutrition OR lifestyle) |
Boolean, Grouping/nesting, Truncation |
Tip: If you aren't confident creating long search strings yet, start with simple searches (like the first search above) and slowly make your search more complex, if required. Sometimes a simple search is enough to bring you the results you need.
If you'd like assistance searching in Journal Databases check out the help section within the database you are searching, take a look at the Library's Database Help Guide, our Video Tutorials, or contact the Library.