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InfoSkills for Theology

InfoSkills @ TiU

Advanced Search

Search rules

  • Enter search terms in the Search Term box .
    • The default is to search for ALL terms entered -- which is a Boolean AND search. For example, a search on youth violence is the same as a search for youth AND violence. This means that you don't have to use the AND operator within a row, but if you prefer to do so you can.
    • Use WCD's truncation and wildcard symbols to expand or focus searches.
      Symbols Usage Examples

      TRUNCATION

      *

      • Add the asterisk (*) to the end of a search term to retrieve variant endings.
      • Search returns results with 0 or more characters in place of the truncation symbol.
      • A minimum of three characters must precede the symbol.
      connect* retrieves connect, connection, connectivity, etc.
      individual* retrieves individual, individuals, individualism, individuality

      WILDCARDS

      # and ?

      • The number sign (#) replaces one character in or at the end of a search term.
      • A minimum of three characters must precede the symbol.
      photograph# retrieves photograph, photographs (but not photographer)
      wom#n retrieves woman, women
      • The question mark (?) replaces 0 to 9 unknown characters in a search term.
      lab?r retrieves labor, labour
      encyclop?dia retrieves encyclopedia, encyclopaedia
    • To search for an exact phrase, put quotation marks around your search terms: "youth violence".
    • For more controlled searching, use parentheses: prevent* ("youth violence" OR "juvenile delinquen*").
  • Choose the field(s) you want to search in the Search Index box . When conducting a general search, the keyword field is normally the best one to use. Other fields available from the pull-down menu include Title, Author, Abstract, Subject, and Source Title (=in many cases: journal title).
  • Choose the appropriate operator from the operator box if you want to add more search terms to your search, for example, a particular author.
  • If you need more search boxes for your search, click on Add row .

Within Advanced Search, options to limit your search are available under 'Search Tools' at the bottom of the screen

Limiters appear in the following order:

  • Only return peer-reviewed articles;
  • Open Access;
  • Format (e.g., book, e-book, article, etc.);
  • Language;
  • Audience (juvenile or not juvenile)
  • Publication year;
  • Any content (e.g., fiction, non-fiction);
  • Library holdings: Libraries Worldwide, Libraries in the Netherlands, Tilburg University Library. 

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