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Advanced Search Strategies

Advanced searching techniques to focus and control database search results while retrieving more relevant results.

Purpose & Function

In database searching, using parentheses, or nesting, combines multiple strategies to build complex search strings. This technique is used to:

  • Clarify relationships between search concepts;
  • Isolate parts of the search query;
  • Prioritize the order of the search.

This complex search retrieves works that are highly relevant and limited in number.

Examples

NESTED SEARCH

Searching: Academic Search Complete

  (spotify OR "apple music") Select a Field (optional)
AND streaming Select a Field (optional)
AND (royalties or licensing) Select a Field (optional)

COMPLEX NESTED SEARCH

Searching: Academic Search Complete

  (spotify OR "apple music") NOT (pandora OR "iheart radio") Select a Field (optional)
AND streaming Select a Field (optional)
AND (royalties or licens*) Select a Field (optional)

 

These searches make use of multiple strategies: nesting, phrase searching, Boolean operators and truncation. Control even further by adding limits, field searching (e.g., title or abstract) and/or using Subject search.