Use AND between keywords to narrow your search.
Example: technology AND "early childhood"
Use OR between keywords to expand your search.
Example: (technology OR computers) AND ("early childhood" OR "child development")
Use NOT between keywords to exclude irrelevant results from your search.
Example: technology AND "early childhood" NOT "special education"
Where's the article? Bearcat Search and our research databases include abstract-only records. These look like the other article records, but there's no PDF or HTML of the actual article text. That's okay! You can request the article's full text for free >>
Tip! You can search all of the below databases simultaneously. Learn how >>
NCSU Libraries, 2014
Video borrowed from Western Libraries.
Using a synthesis matrix is a great way to organize your research as you synthesize sources for your literature review. Download an Excel spreadsheet template and example PDF below.