Hills like White Elephants

Visit our Primo Research Guide if you have any questions.

When you're beginning a research project, start by searching in Primo to get a general overview of what's available. Once you have a sense of your topic, move on to subject-specific databases—these are great for finding more detailed and focused information.

To make your searches more effective, try using Boolean operators:

• AND helps narrow your results by combining two ideas (e.g., climate change AND agriculture).
• OR broadens your search to include either term (e.g., college OR university).
• NOT removes results with a certain term (e.g., nutrition NOT supplements).

Start with a broad search and then narrow it down as you learn more. If you already have a general idea of your topic, use a wide keyword and then adjust based on what you find.

Pay attention to the keywords and subject terms in the articles you read. These can help you come up with better search terms. If you're getting too many results, try adding more specific words to your search.

To search for an exact phrase, put it in quotation marks. For example, searching for "social media addiction" will find that exact phrase, not just the individual words.

If you're reading a long article, e-book, or webpage and want to find something quickly, press CTRL + F (or Command + F on a Mac). This opens a search box that lets you find specific words or phrases in the document.

Finally, remember to keep your writing clear, formal, and informative when working on research assignments. Good research is not just about finding information—it's about communicating it well.

If you need more, check our advanced guide to Database Search Tips.