Find quality information

Many databases will give you the option to limit your results.

For example, you may be able to specify that you want to retrieve only articles:

• with full text available
• from peer-reviewed (refereed) journals
• published in certain years
• published in a particular journal.

Look for the different limit options in the database to help you focus in on what you want.

1. Check your spelling
2. Try leaving out one of your search terms. Instead of carbon emissions plastic bottles Australia, search carbon emissions plastic bottles to broaden your search.
3. Are there any search terms you haven't tried? Finding the terminology used in the discipline can make a huge difference to your results.
4. Change where you search. Another database might be more suitable for your topic. Our:
   • Subject guides list other searchable sources for your research area
   • How to find guides cover specific formats of information.
5. If you have found one good article check its reference list for more good articles, follow up related articles, and articles that cite your article. Check our information on snowballing.

Make sure the results are sorted by relevance. Then you can just check the first page or so, until the results start to become less useful for you.

If you have too many irrelevant results, try these techniques:

• Use more specific search terms e.g. "irrigation" instead of "water", or "acupuncture" instead of "complementary medicine".
• Add search terms. For example, try to focus on Australian literature by adding "Australia" to your search, or focus on an age range by adding "children" or "elderly".
• Use the database limits described at the start of this page.
• Conduct your search in a particular field e.g. the title, abstract or subject fields.