Quick Search - Searching: Getting Started - RU Research Guides at Roosevelt University

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Search Tips

Here are some tips to help you search. If you need more help, use our contact info to the right.

Keep it simple! Good search terms are usually one word (i.e., autism) or one very simple phrase (i.e., global warming). Don't search sentences or long phrases all in one search box (i.e., effects of global warming, fast food industry in the US, etc.).

Start by identifying the main concepts in your topic. What 2-4 words or simple phrases are most important?

Many of the article databases start you on a screen with 3 search boxes. Use those simple words or phrases you came up with to fill the boxes. Try putting just one word/phrase in each box. If the database only shows you one box, go ahead and put all the words together.

Take a look at your results. Are the articles useful? Did the words/phrases you used seem to get you what you need, or do you need to try some new terms instead?

Play around with your search terms. Even if you found good articles, you might be able to find more with new words.

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Article Search

Find Articles from Magazines & Scholarly Journals

Use this search box to find articles from scholarly, academic journals as well as popular magazines and newspapers

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Multi-Subject Search Tools

These tools are simple ways to get started with your searching. They are easy to use and will give you access to quality materials!

Academic Search Premier
This article database covers a wide variety of subjects, so it is a great place to start most types of research. It indexes both scholarly and popular publications and includes a lot of full text articles.
Academic One File
Provides a combination of indexing, abstracts, images, and full text for scholarly and general interest journals embracing all academic disciplines. Offers citations to articles in nearly 14,000 indexed titles, including more than 10,000 peer-reviewed journals and more than 6,500 in full-text.
Wilson OmniFile Select
This is another large, multi-subject article database with both scholarly and popular materials. It too has lots of full text articles available.

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