Constructing basic searches
To get started, enter the desired search term into the search bar:
Starting with a broader search query using relevant key terms is generally more effective than formulating a specific research question or using too many limiting terms.
You can then refine your results by adding more key terms.
Without Boolean operators, the search engine interprets your query as an ‘OR’, ranking results based on term frequency and favouring more recent content. For instance, a search for ‘treaty’ and ‘Indigenous Australia’ would be processed as ‘treaty OR Indigenous Australia’ unless Boolean operators are employed.
Some helpful tools to narrow down your search include the left-hand search facets side bar that accompanies all search results:
The edit search button available under your search query:
And the advanced search, accessible at all times in the top navigational bar:
Below are some helpful tips for constructing a search query:
- Use Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT (in capitals) to combine search terms within any search box
- The AND relationship between search terms is set as a default. For example, the search query ‘civil war’ finds content containing civil AND war
- Enclose a phrase within quotation marks for an exact match: "civil war" finds content containing that exact phrase
- To find all records in a field, enter a*
- Use parentheses to group terms and Boolean operators: care AND (cat OR dog) finds content containing care and containing either cat or dog; care AND cat OR dog (no parentheses) finds content containing both care and cat, or containing dog
- Use AND, OR or NOT selector in additional search boxes (accessible on the advanced search) to combine searches across multiple fields
- Use a question mark (?) wildcard to represent one character: ta?k finds content containing talk, task, tank...
- Use an asterisk (*) wildcard to represent zero or more characters: *travel* finds content containing travel, travels, travelling...
- Wildcards do not work at the start of a search term; wildcards do not work within quotation marks
- Use Match Any, Match All, Match None selectors to include and exclude other available search parameters with your search terms
Still Need Help?
If you have further questions on how to use the basic search, please reach out to us at support.informit@rmit.edu.au