Search algorithms in databases only look for strings entered by the searcher. They can be words, abbreviations or something else. However, there are a few tools you can use to improve your results.

In information retrieval, search terms are combined into search phrases. To master information retrieval techniques, you need to know the following tricks:

splitting a keyword
phrase search
search phrases and combining keywords
limiting the search area

Next we will take a more detailed look at the search tips.

1) Splitting a keyword

Not all databases can search for different conjugations of words without being told to do so. This is done by using a truncation character (wild card).

In search terms, it is advisable to exclude at least the inflectional endings of words. The truncation is indicated by a truncation character. When searching in Finnish, where words have several inflectional forms and there are many compound words, it is advisable to truncate the search words. This way all inflected forms and compound words will be included in the search.

The truncation marker depends on the database policy, but is usually an asterisk *. See the database-specific search instructions, if necessary.

E.g. terveydenhuolto VS terveydenhuol*, terveydenh* will also search for terveydenhuollon, terveydenhuollossa, terveydenhoito ... etc.

E.g. markkinoin* will search with the words markkinointi, markkinoinnin, markkinoinnilla, markkinointisuunnitelman

NB! In Google or Google Scholar, for example, there is no need to enter any characters to break the search term.

2) Phrase search

If you are searching for a concept that is described by two or more words, the concept ‒ or phrase ‒ is written inside quotation marks. In a phrase search, on the other hand, the search engine looks for the string of the search phrase precisely in the order in which you type it. A phrase is usually written inside quotation marks.

Phrase search works in most databases, including Google.

E.g. "social media", "digital marketing", "pediatric care"

3) Search phrases and combining keywords

You can combine search terms into search phrases if you cannot describe the search topic in one word. Combining is done with the Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT. Operators should be written in upper case, as not all databases recognize lower case operators.

The combination of search terms can be done in the basic and advanced search of databases. In the advanced search you don't usually need to enter the operators yourself, as they can be found between the search fields. However, the search logic is the same.

The logic of Boolean operators is as follows:

AND

When you want the search result to contain both search terms: 'marketing' AND 'welfare services', you combine them in the search using the AND operator. The AND operator narrows down the search result.

OR

When you want a search result to contain either of the search terms 'marketing' OR 'communication', you combine them in the search using the OR operator. The OR operator expands the search result. You can add multiple synonyms to a search phrase using the OR operator, for example 'markkinointi OR marketing OR viestintä OR communication'.

NOT

When you want a word to be excluded from the search result, you can use the NOT operator in the search. For example, 'marketing NOT advertising' will not include publications containing the word advertising in the search result. The NOT operator narrows down the search result.

The search terms on the next page use Boolean operators for basic and advanced searches.

4. Limiting the search area

You can also refine the search conditions by limiting the search area. In this case the accuracy of the search will be increased, as publications that do not meet the limiting condition will be excluded from the search results. The most common way of narrowing down the search is to limit it to a specific time period, language, or type of material.

The search area is usually limited using a search form or a search results page, where you can choose, for example, which field in the database to target.