Exact Phrase Searching
Truncations (aka wildcards)
Boolean Operators (ANDs, ORs, NOTs)
To research all sides of an argument, you will need to develop different sets of keywords that best describe a particular view of your topic. Let's use the causes of school violence as an example.
Some scholars argue that school violence may be caused by exposure to violence in media like television, movies, or video games. Keywords to research this view may include a combination of the following words or phrases:
Other scholars find that violent incidences at school can be caused by mental health issues brought on by social isolation or bullying. Keywords to research this view may include a combination of the following words or phrases:
Video created by Lexy Spry & Emily Wixson, Chemistry Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008.
Time Saving Tip
Here are bonus tips that will help you use Boolean Operators to make a search for sources more effective: