Step-by-Step Searching Guide
For UW-L Learning Communities

1. Think about your topic and search terms.

1. Ask yourself, “What do I want to know?”
2. Identify your key terms
3. Make a list of synonyms for each term
4. Imagine the title of an article or two related to your subject and search for terms within those titles
5. Think of terms to avoid
   

2. Select the most appropriate databases

1. For thorough research, use ERIC and other databases found at the Education Resources subject page.
2. Remember, by using the Murphy Library version of ERIC and other databases, you can benefit from our GetText network of internal links to full text. You will not get these benefits by searching free internet versions of these databases.
3. For additional, broader research use some of the databases found at the Most Popular Databases page.

3. Try a variety of searches

1. Expect to do many searches; hope some of them find relevant results
    
2. Refer to the Three Principles of Online Searching (PDF) guide as well as the EBSCOhost Searching (PDF) guide as well as other library guides for specifics.
    
3. Try simple, one or two word searches first.
    
4. If you find too much, narrow your search using some of the following:
   A. Try using "and" to find focused results. Example: math and anxiety and girls
   B. Limit by date, language, type of publication, etc.
   C. Search for more specific topics
    
5.  If you find too few results, try the following
   A. Simplify your search—use few, simple terms
   B. Use broader terms
   C. Try a variety of databases
   D. Increase the date range being searched
   E. Search the “full text” if available
    
6. Include synonyms in your searches, putting parentheses around synonyms. Example: (mainstreaming or inclusion) and special education
    
7. Look for clickable subject headings, which find all articles that have been labeled as relating to that subject heading.

4. Look for the full text of your articles

1. When you find a citation to an article, look for a link to full text.
    
2. Most UW-L databases are cross linked, allowing you to find the full text of an article in another database without doing a separate search. Look for the GetTeXt icon for this functionality.
    
3. Enter the name of a specific periodical in the Periodicals Holdings List. This may lead you to the full text of the periodical in one of the many full text databases at Murphy Library.
    
4. Use Murphy Library Delivery for Distance Learners service for items not available in your local libraries.

5. Get help

1. Contact the library Reference Desk. Call (608) 785-8508, (800) 881-4454, or email refemail@uwlax.edu
2. Set up an Individual Research Consultation