Always think about different ways to say the same thing. Start with keywords to describe your topic, within results, read the abstract and look at the subject headings to identify additional keywords to use and revise the search (if needed).
Retrieve too many results when in the databases? Limit to scholarly articles, limit words to abstract or subject
Search Strategies:
Start with keywords (place phrases in quotes), use connectors (or / and)
| "counter terrorism" | "middle east" |
| "human rights" | "national security" |
| "foreign policy" | "homeland security" |
| "boko haram" | "Qassem Suleimani" |
| risk* = risk or risks | threat* = threat or threats |
| terroris* = terrorism or terrorists | intervention* = intervention or interventions |
| strateg* = strategy or strategies | violation* = violation or violations |
Use - or - to connect synonyms
counterterrorism or "counter terrorism"
policy or policies
"electronic surveillance" or "mass surveillance"
Use - and - to connect concepts
"border security" and (counterterrorism or "counter terrorism")
community and (policy or policies or program*) and (counterterrorism or "counter terrorism")
"homeland security" and "law enforcement"
"hostage taking" and negotiation* and terrorism
In addition, you can search by a known author.
