Finding the Right Words
One of the traps of keyword searches is the apparent ease with which you get results. The truth is, computers only retrieve what you type in so better results often depend on variations due to synonyms, spelling, common usage versus technical terms, and even singular versus plural terms.
In other words, the key to searching the Internet, databases and even an index at the back of a book is the same: words. The better you are with words, the better you will be at finding the information you want. And in fact, computer databases are not good sources for vague inquiries, so it pays to make your search as precise as possible.
The best way to begin a search, therefore, is by asking whether you know enough about the topic to find accurate search terms. If not, do some background research on a few words and phrases with a dictionary, thesaurus or encyclopedia until you understand enough to go further. You might be surprised by the quality search results a few choice synonyms can yield. And this just means knowing some alternate ways to describe what you are looking for. Databases will often have a help or glossary screen you can use. And be sure to use the thesaurus if it has one. This will save you thinking of alternative keywords and will make your search both more comprehensive and more accurate.
For help searching, visit the University of Guelph library. For archived research tips, visit info tips.