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Literature searching

Get advice on different search techniques and search strategies for better search results. Don’t hesitate to contact the library if you need assistance.

Easy steps for better searches

The library provides access to a wide variety of scientific sources. By using some basic search-techniques, your database-searches will be more effective and also save valuable time. Search-functions may vary somewhat from one database to another, but the basic principles are similar.

Phrase-searches: Search for an exact word-match

If you want to search for several words in a spesific order or a known expression, you should enclose your chosen words with quotation marks " ". This will give you results with the words as a phrase.

This is particularly important when searching for expressions wich are written in one word in norwegian, but as two separate words in english; e.g mobiltelefon and "mobile phone". The search-technique is also useful when searching for a spesific title.

Phrase-searching limits your search, giving fewer results.

For instance: ”mental health” will result in matches where these two words appear next to each other in this particular order.

Video: Phrase searching (with english subtitles)

Truncation: Find more endings to the root of a word

Words often have different spellings and endings. To counter this in your searches, you can add a truncation symbol. The truncation symbol is most frequently an asterisk *.

This can be examplified by school*, wich will give matches for among other terms - school, schools, schooling etc.

Use truncation to include both singulars, plurals or combined words. Truncation will expand your search.

Be aware that a truncation symbol following too few letters will result in many irrelevant matches.

For instance: car* will match both cars, carpet, carbon and more.

Video: Truncation (with english subtitles)

Combine different search terms with AND or OR

By combining search terms with the operators AND or OR you can limit or expand your search. Most databases will add the operator AND between search terms by default, meaning you don't have to do this yourself.

Use AND:

When you want all the words to be found in the resulting matches
If you want to limit your search and get fewer matches

For instance: substance use AND psychiatry.

Use OR

When you search using synomyms or different spellings
When one or several of your search terms must appear in your matches
When you wish to expand your search to get more matches

For instance: feedback OR tilbakemelding.

In several databases you can combine search terms via a drop-down menu next to the search field (see below).

Video demonstrating the use of operators (with english subtitles)

More useful tips

See how to construct a search-string and how you can decide which search-fields to search in.

Brackets

Group search-terms by using brackets ( ). To combine different search-terms and synonyms in one search-string, you can use brackets and the combinator OR between synonymous words.

For instance: (adhd OR "behavioral problems") AND school

Field-searches

Is used when you want to limit your search to particular fields in the database register. For subject-searches it is best to choose the fields "Title", "Abstract", "Keywords". Other fields you can limit your search to is "Author", "Year of publication".
Use the drop-down menu to choose search-field (see below).

Viser hvordan velge et spesifikt felt å søke i

Search with subject terms

Many databases employ subject terms to describe the contents of articles. Articles on the same subject have identical subject terms. You will find these subject terms under headings like "thesaurus", "subject" or "keywords". When searching with subject terms provided in the database you will often get more relevant matches.

Too few or too many matches?

Concider doing this if you get too few matches to your search:

Use other words
Use broader, more general words/terms
Combine fewer words with the operator AND
Did you try truncations?
Remove limitations
Try searching a different database

Consider doing this if you get too many matches to your search:

Use more spesific words
Try phrase-searching
Add more search terms, using the operator AND
Limit to publication year, type of material etc.
Use subject terms for your search
Search spesific fields, like "Title", "Abstract", "Keyword".

Use Search & Write!

Use the guide "Search & Write" to learn more about information searching.

Improve your search skills by learning fundamental search techniques.
What to consider when searching for academic literature.

Search & Write - Searching

Get assistance from a librarian

Problems finding literature? Need tips on how to search more efficient?

Get help from a librarian with literature searching.

Make an appointment

Plan your search

In this video, we demonstrate how to move from your research question to planning your literature search, including how to choose effective search terms.