1. Phrase Searching: Use " " quotation marks to search for a phrase.
2. Pick Up Word Variants: Use the asterisk * to look for variations on a word.
3. Tell the Database How to Parse Your Search: Use Boolean operators.
4. Search in a Field: Choose where you want search terms to appear.
5. Scan bibliographies: Use citations.
6. Proximity Search: Look for terms within a certain distance to over terms. Available in databases on EBSCO or ProQuest platforms.
Examples
ProQuest Platform (ERIC)
EBSCO Platform (Education Source or ERIC)
7. Use a Thesaurus: Find out the terminology (controlled vocabulary) assigned to citations. Databases may not use the same subject headings. You may be able to search a thesaurus or filter on subject terms via facets on a search results page.
UC Library Search | Education Source | ERIC |
Teaching Teams | Teaching Teams | Team Teaching |
College teaching |
College teaching |
College instruction |
Space perception | Spatial ability in children | Spatial ability |
Humanities -- Study and teaching (Higher) | Humanities education | Humanities instruction |
Some literature may not be indexed.
You may wish to search in a web engine like Google and limit to a domain such as .edu or .org.
Sample --> multidisciplinary teaching approach site:.edu
Sample --> teaching anthropology "thick description" site:.org
Sample --> teaching anthropology, located an Open Access journal called Teaching Anthropology
How can humor be used in cultural studies courses? How might humor open up new lines of dialogue with students?
Would this be a logical search?
humor OR humour OR comedy OR laughter OR jokes
AND
Teaching OR learning OR instruction*
AND
Cultural N2 (class OR studies OR course)
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