|ProQuest Search Strategies
by Jan Coe
Viewing your results
1. Select appropriate databases to search in
for your topic. If not sure, select ALL.
2. Use the tabs at the top to view just
Scholarly Journals, Magazines, Newspapers,
3. Always skim the abstract. If the
highlighted words show a different context than
you had in mind, skip on to the next likely
4. Use the More Like This function judiciously.
5. Copy & Paste any interesting looking
references to organizations, people, web sites,
etc. when you come across them in an article.
Search these items in Google or another search
6. If viewing a scholarly research study
article, read abstract, then skip down to
Discussion section (unless you have the
background and/or interest in reading about the
methodology and formal aspects used in the
Strategies for narrowing your search
1. Instead of using natural language, take
the time to look up the ProQuest SUBJECT terms
for your topic.
2. Add more SUBJECT terms, connecting them with
3. Use the fields drop-down menu to specify
where you expect your terms to be found – e.g.
Mexico in LOCATION, or stem cells in TITLE.
4. Restrict results to a certain range of dates,
or to certain document types (like editorials or
5. Use natural language phrases in quotes, e.g.
6. Sometimes using the PQ-generated “Suggested
Topics” can he helpful.
Strategies for broadening your search
1. Use fewer SUBJECT terms.
2. Use more synonyms, connecting them with OR.
3. Use truncation – e.g. instead of nursing, put
nurs* in the search box. PQ will return results
with nursing, nurses, nurse.