“What search terms should I use?”

Orlov asked a librarian to help her conduct a narrower search with her library’s general periodical database. She could count on the database for fewer, more reliable results than an Internet search could provide.

Orlov’s database search terms

employee

internet use

surveillance

Date restrictions

Past five years

With these search terms and restrictions, Orlov received twenty results, a manageable number.

Tips for smart searching

Refining keyword searches in databases and search engines