Combination searching:

• Combine keyword and subject searching or multiple subjects.
• Combine a previous searches or add new terms to a previous search.

Database Limiters:

• Use the limiters listed on the advanced search page to refine your search.
• Eliminate issues with variant spelling.
• What are your paper requirements? Set relevant limits, such as Date, Scholarly Peer-Reviewed articles, and other limiters to refine your search.

Use the available subject, subject headings or thesaurus limiters to narrow your results or include some of the terms in your search expression.

After a search in EBSCO, look for subject link options in the left sidebar. Click an option, then click "Show more." Mark relevant subjects or use some terms to add to and refine your results.

Use a variety of relevant databases and search expressions, as shown in the examples below.
Set limits, such as date and peer-reviewed articles, to match paper requirements.

• opens new windowchild* AND development AND trauma (in SocINDEX with Full Text)
• • opens new windowchild* AND development AND trauma (in Sociological Collection)
• • opens new window (DE "Trauma" OR DE "Post Traumatic Stress") AND child* and development (subject and keyword search; in SocINDEX with Full Text, APA PsycARTICLES, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, APA PsycInfo, Sociological Collection)
• • opens new windowDE "AT-risk youth" (subject search in SocINDEX with Full Text)
• • opens new windowDE "AT-risk youth" and (economics or poverty) (subject and keyword search; in SocINDEX with Full Text)
• • opens new windowDE “AT-risk youth” and effective programs (in SocINDEX with Full Text)
• • opens new window"at-risk youth" AND (program or club) AND (business or Finance) (phrase and keyword search; in SocINDEX with Full Text, Academic Search Complete; Political Science Complete; Social Work Abstracts)
• • opens new window"children with disabilities" AND Africa (keyword search in SocINDEX with Full Text, Family Studies Abstracts, Sociological Collection, and Social Work Abstracts)
• • opens new window ("children with disabilities" or "children with special needs" ) AND U.S. AND Africa (keyword search in SocINDEX with Full Text, Family Studies Abstracts, Sociological Collection, and Social Work Abstracts)
• • opens new window ("children with disabilities" or "children with special needs" ) AND Africa AND (study or report) (keyword search in SocINDEX with Full Text, Family Studies Abstracts, Sociological Collection, and Social Work Abstracts)
•  
• • opens new windowDE "INTERNATIONAL adoption" AND issue* AND (survey research or report) (subject and keyword search in SocINDEX with Full text; DE=descriptor or subject term)
• • opens new windowDE " FAMILY services" AND permanency (subject and keyword search in multiple databases)
• • opens new windowfoster care AND permanency AND (study OR report OR research) (keyword search in multiple databases; limited by date)