EBSCOhost databases

When you first open any EBSCOhost database the Advanced Search screen is displayed as the default. This is the best search option for carrying out a thorough search and to develop a systematic search strategy.

Enter your search terms in the boxes at the top of the screen (the database will suggest terms as you start typing). You can choose to search in particular fields such as subject terms or abstract. If you select All Text the database will search the whole text of articles, so you are likely to get a lot of irrelevant results. Use the plus button if you want to add more boxes.

You can filter your results in various ways, for example by date or publication type. Linked Full Text option is not recommended as that will limit your search to results that have full text available within the database; you might have access to the full text via another route. Some filters are unique to the database being searched

To access additional search tools, select the Search options tab, underneath the search boxes.

• Proximity means your target terms will be found close to one another. For example, if you type archives management the system will find archives and management separated by five words or less, in any order. A record will be returned only if all the words searched are found within the same field, such as title, subject, or abstract. This mode also allows you to use search operators like AND, OR and NOT (for example archives AND management) or quotation marks to search for an exact phrase (for example "archives management").
• SmartText Searching (not available for all databases): You can copy and paste large chunks of text (such as an article abstract) into the search box and the database will pick out search terms and then conduct a search.
• Apply related words and Apply equivalent subjects will expand your search to include synonyms of your search terms.

The filter options are also available from the results screen by clicking the All Filters button at the top of the results. You may prefer to refine your search results rather than setting search options at this stage.

This video demonstrates an Advanced Search on EBSCOhost (3 mins 27 secs).