Discovery Search Tutorial

Where to Start???

The Basic Search is simple, easy to use, and can be a good place to start your search. It is best for...

• when you are beginning your research and don't know much about your topic

• when you are looking for a basic overview of a topic

The Advanced Search lets you build a more detailed search--that returns more relevant results. It is best for...

• when your topic has multiple aspects (ex: gun control on US college campuses)

• when you want to use filters to limit the items you are searching (ex: limiting your search to journal articles)

Use the Suggested Search Terms

In the Discovery Search, when you type a term into the search box suggested search terms will appear below. These suggested search terms can help expand your search to include relevant terms.

Example: If you type the words Spanish flu into the search box, Discovery will suggest the terms pictured below. These additional terms include helpful variations that will bring back a larger number of results AND more relevant results than the single term you entered.

We always recommend using the Advanced Search

This option lets you build a more complex search--that returns more relevant results. Follow the steps below to build a complex search using the Advanced Search option. 

1. Click the Advanced Search link below the search box on the Basic search screen.

2. Enter each distinct part of the search into a separate search box.

In this example, we will use the research topic of gun control on US college campuses. Note that we entered each aspect of the research topic in a separate box. 

3. On the All fields drop-down list you can select what field you want the database to search for your term. 

We recommend staying with the default All Fields. Selecting the other options tends to limit your results by only searching the item title, the author field, or the assigned subject (which not all items have). 

4. Click the Boolean operator drop-down menu to combine the search box entries with AND, OR, NOT. (Default is AND)

Boolean operators build a more complex search by telling the database that your results must have the text gun legislation AND college campuses AND United States. If we put all three aspects of the search into the Basic Search, our results MAY only contain one or two of the terms.   

4. Click the Add fields link below the search boxes if you would like to add more lines of search to your advanced search.

Under the Advanced Search section, you should see headings for Filters and Search Options. 

You can apply any desired limiters to your search. For example, you may want to limit results to items with full text available online and published within a custom date range you select.

Common Filters

Limit by:

• Online Full Text: Limits your search to only articles and eBooks that our library has the full text available online.

  • Helpful when you need the full text NOW and don't have time to request items through Interlibrary Loan 

• At My Library: Lmits your search to items in PRINT at the Library. 

• Academic (Peer-Reviewed) Journals: Limits your search to journals that require articles to have been peer/expert reviewed for contact and accuracy.

Published Date:

Limit your results by looking for items published within a certain date range. 

Language:

Limit your results to items published in a specific language.