Pick a few concise, descriptive keywords to search your topic. Think about synonyms that might describe your keywords. If you have a broad topic, you may need to narrow your search scope. There are many ways to narrow.

Here are some ideas:

Age

Condition

Species

Geography

Time Period

The advanced search interface often gives you more ways to narrow down your search, so look for this option.

AND, OR, NOT are Boolean connectors for keyword searching.

When searching, you can search for two concepts with AND. Often, AND is the default connector in a database. For example, larva AND jumping

You can search for synonyms with OR. For example, jumping OR leaping

You can exclude terms with NOT. For example, jumping NOT frogs

Put quotes around the phrase. For example, enter "parasitic wasp" into your search box. This works in most databases but not all.

Make an appointment for a research consultation with me if you need additional help finding articles! Email laurie-neuerburg@uiowa.edu or call 319-467-0216.