Help Page for the Jon Cohen AIDS Research Collection


 Help Topics 
document graphic Searching
  - Getting started
  > Searching tips
  - Choosing a search type
  - Using basic search
  - Using advanced search (boolean)
document graphic Interpreting search results
document graphic Viewing search history
document graphic Using the bookbag

Tips for successful searches

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when you are searching in the Jon Cohen AIDS Research Collection.

String matching: The search engine uses string matching to determine search hits. That means, for each query term, the primary rule is this: what you put in the form text box is literally what the search engine will look for. This includes complete phrases. Exceptions to the primary rule follow.

Term expansion: You can use an asterisk (*) at the end of a word stem to find plural forms and other variations on that word.

Example: searching for "work*" will match works, worker, working, etc.

Capitalization: Case sensitivity of the search term is not retained in searches by the search engine.

Example: searching for Love will match "LOVE," "Love," and "love."

Other helpful tips

Select specific areas of a text: The Advanced search has pull-down menus that allow you to specify specific areas, or regions, of a text to search within. advanced search

 

Click the search button: Not all browsers will allow you to submit any search form by hitting the enter or return key. This is especially the case for forms with more than one input text box. To be safe, click the search button.