If you get too many or too few results when searching in Library Search or a research database, try using one or more of the tips below to revise your search.
Too many search results
- Use more search terms. Start with a small number of keywords and then add more terms or try different or more specific terms based on your results. Each time you add another search term, you will get fewer results.
- Use limiters. Limiters such as date and resource type retrieve a targeted results list and will help you narrow down your search. For example, you may be able to limit your search to scholarly, peer-reviewed articles or to articles published within the past 5 years.
- Do not use OR. When connecting your search terms with Boolean operators, make sure you are not using OR between terms that mean different things; for example, women OR salaries. This search connector broadens your search by looking for either word rather than both, and should be used sparingly. You can connect your terms using AND to narrow results to those that contain both words rather than one or the other.
- Notice the default search options. By default, most databases search in the title, author field, abstract, and subject terms associated with the article. Experiment with searching in just the title or subject field in order to get more targeted results.
- Narrow down the topic itself. Think about a more focused aspect of your topic or various angles of your topic. For example, if you are looking at the topic of refugees from war-torn countries, you may want to search for information on refugees from particular countries, education for refugee children, or refugees and post-traumatic stress.
Too few search results
- Search a database on your topic. Search in a database that specializes in a certain subject. If you need a database suggestion, try the Subject Guide for your field. You may have to try several different databases; be flexible and persistent.
- Broaden your topic/search terms. You may need to think more broadly about your topic. Think about the broader issues or subjects that your topic relates to and try searching for those. For example, if you are researching cell phone bans in Nevada high schools, you might broaden your topic to cell phone bans in schools or technology use in education.
- Search on different aspects of your topic. Think about the different aspects of your topic that you plan to cover and search for them separately. Then synthesize the information from different sources. For example, if you are interested in the impact of recreational marijuana legalization on public health and crime rates, you can search for marijuana and public health, marijuana and mental health, marijuana and crime, drug policy and public health, etc. Then you can combine and interpret this information from different sources.
- Change your search terms. Replace the terms you use in your search with similar or related terms. Brainstorming keywords will be helpful for this.
- Use fewer search terms. Each time you put in another search term you will get fewer results. Start with a small number of keywords and then increase the number as needed.
- Use fewer limiters. Try using only limiters that are absolutely necessary. For instance, if your professor requires only scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, use the limiter for peer-reviewed articles but nothing more.
If you want more tips for searching to narrow or broaden your results, take a look at the search tips guide.