When you search in a database, you need to break your question or topic down into key words. How you combine those words into a search string also matters. Check out this video for a quick intro to keywords, Boolean operators, and building effective search strings.
Video Length: 1:28
Used with permission from the Ronald Williams Library at Northeastern Illinois University.
The Search Strategy Builder is a tool designed to teach you how to create a search string using Boolean logic. While it is not a database and is not designed to input a search, you should be able to cut and paste the results into most databases' search boxes.
The Search Strategy Builder was developed by the University of Arizona Libraries and is used under a Creative Commons License.