What is searched?
Usually, individual words from the article title, author's name, subject terms (also known as descriptors) and abstract.  These 'fields' may be searched individually or in a 'keyword' search across more than one 'field�.
The system may search for a whole word or words beginning with specified letters and ending with a 'truncation' symbol, commonly   *  #  ?  +  $

 eg-  architect*  will find architectural, architects, architecture, architectures, as well as architect.

Note that the in Library catalogue, a question mark ? is used for truncation.

How does the system combine terms?
Individual search words are found and compared with other "terms" you have selected, according to the "commands" given through Boolean operators, AND,  OR,  NOT.

Before you start searching you need to be aware of how a particular database will treat words typed in without a specified Boolean operator.  Are adjacent words treated as a phrase or near each other in any order, or does the system assume an operator, usually  AND  or  OR  between search terms?

Try a quick test by typing the same words in different configurations,
eg - if  space   representation  gives -

65  records a small number of records, the system finds both words as a phrase in a record
253  records a larger number of records, the system assumes the AND operator, that is each word somewhere in the record.
1076  records a large number of records, the system assumes the OR operator, that is either word somewhere in a record

Creating a "Search strategy"
Think about the concepts which form the basic issues for your topic,

what terms, words or phrases, do you use to describe the issues?
what other terms might be used for those issues?

use the encyclopaedias or handbooks for background information and terminology
look at words in the Catalogue records, from Subject headings, Contents, Notes.

Write out your search terms and link the search terms with Boolean operators

AND (where both terms are wanted),

OR (where either term is wanted) use brackets to enclose terms separated by the OR operator

use truncation to collect plurals and other endings of a term

david  harvey  AND  (modernism  OR  postmodern*)

Dealing with the Results
The results of your initial search may be disappointing but don't give up!
Look at some of the records for ideas for other words that you could use to make your search strategy more relevant.  In particular, look for words which have a similar meaning to your concept, eg.

 architectur*  AND  (fiction  OR  literature  OR  narrat*)  AND  represent*

Look for other ways to make your search strategy better describe your topic.
Recent articles only?
  - look for a way to restrict the search result to a date.  Many databases provide a way of specifying a date range.

Search terms closer together?
  - restrict the search to a field such as title, subject headings (descriptors) or abstract, this will make the search more specific.
  - can you search for terms next to each other, possibly using operators such as ADJ  or NEAR, or inverted commas around terms to indicate a phrase

Combine the results of individual searches, many databases allow set numbers to be combined instead of re-typing the search strategy each time

More detailed notes specific for searching each database are available, follow the links from the database name in the list of databases useful for Built Environments I.
 

Which database?
Start with a database in the category for your topic, such as Avery or API for all aspects of architecture.  Go to the page for your topic for suggestions of suitable databases, or scan the list of databases relevant to a range of topics in Built Environments I.