Ask WWU Libraries

A few search tricks apply to most library databases and some work well even if you are using publicly available Internet search engines. 

1. Use keywords or short phrases in your search boxes. Most library search tools will search more effectively if instead of searching for cognitive behavioral therapy with children you search for cognitive behavioral therapy AND children. 
2. Use Boolean operators to connect your search terms or phrases. These include AND and OR. Choose to capitalize by default - not every search tool requires it but some do, and it never hurts to have them capitalized. 
3. Review available advance search options and limits in the search tool. Every database will have different search limits and abilities to refine your search. Common ones include full-text availability, scholarly articles, and date of the article, but you may also have more obscure limits such as by discipline, by subject heading, or by type of research or age group. 

If you get a search that has very few results you can use the subject headings, titles, and abstracts to brainstorm different words you could use to expand your search. 

If you get a search that has thousands of results, make use of available limits or add additional keywords to reduce your search to more relevant and fewer results. 

If you get stuck, or spend longer than 30 or 40 minutes searching with nothing that seems useful, your best resource is a faculty librarian (reference@wallawalla.edu) to help you consider your search and make certain you're in the right space and using the right words.