Search Techniques Summary Table

This table summarizes how to use the basic search techniques in each of the information services and research databases to which the Mundt Library subscribes.
To use the table, scan down the left column to find the information service you plan to use; then scan to the right to find out how to apply the search techniques in that particular information service or database. You may find it helpful to print this table and to keep it handy when you are using the various electronic information services.

		Techniques
Research Databases/ Information Services	Boolean operators -- AND / OR / NOT	Phrase searching	Truncation / wildcard	Nesting (Parentheses)

ABI INFORM -- see Proquest
Academic Search Premier -- see EBSCOhost
ACM Digital Library	+ - [default is OR in Basic search]	Use double quotes. For example: "artificial intelligence"	(asterisk) *	yes
AP Images	AND OR NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "south dakota"	(asterisk) *	no
Business Source Premier -- see EBSCOhost
CSA Illumina -COS Funding Opport. -Physical Ed. Index
EBRARY -Academic Complete	AND OR AND NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "root beer"	None.	no
EBSCOhost: -Academic Search P. -Business Source P. -Regional Bus. News -MasterFILE Premier -EBSCO MegaFILE -Libr, InfoSci & Tech	AND OR NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "missouri river"	(asterisk) *	yes
Gale Cengage (formerly Infotrac) -Gale Virtual Ref. Libr. -Junior Reference Coll. -K/12 Profess'l Coll. -Opposing Viewpoints	AND OR NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "missouri river" [ To find the two words within 5 words of each other, just type words. For example: coca cola ]	(asterisk) *	yes
Gale Virtual Reference Library -- see Gale Cengage
IEEE CS Digital Library	Use radio buttons to select: AND OR NOT	none	none	no
Junior Reference Collection -- see Gale Cengage
K/12 Professional Collection -- see Gale Cengage
LEXIS-NEXIS - Academic - Congressional - Statistical	AND OR AND NOT	Use "W/1". For example: coca w/1 cola	(exclamation point) !	yes
Library Catalog (SD Library Network)	AND OR NOT	In Advanced Search, use phrase radio button; elsewhere use double quotes: "missouri river"	(asterisk) *	yes
MathSciNet	AND OR NOT	Type the phrase. For example: graph theory	(asterisk) *	yes
NetLibrary	AND OR NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "missouri river"	(asterisk) *	yes
OCLC FirstSearch	AND OR NOT	Use "W". For example: coca w cola	(asterisk) *	yes
Opposing Viewpoints -- see Gale Cengage
Physical Education Index	AND OR NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "strength training"	(asterisk) *	yes
ProQuest -ABI-INFORM -Research Library -SIRS Discoverer -SIRS Researcher	AND OR AND NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "missouri river" For 2-word phrase, may type the phrase. For example: missouri river For more words, must use quotation marks. For example: "big sioux river"	(asterisk) *	yes
Research Library -- see Proquest
Safari Tech Books Online	AND OR ANDNOT (all operators must be capitalized)	Use double quotes. For example: "artificial intelligence"	Automatic truncation (use double quotes around word to stop it)	no
SciFinder	Use natural language -- a phrase or a sentence. May use: NOT	None	Automatic truncation	no
Scitation	AND OR NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "graph theory"	(asterisk) *	no
Web of Knowledge -BIOSIS -Medline -Web of Science	AND OR NOT	Use double quotes. For example: "thin film"	(asterisk) *	yes