Advanced searching

Developing strong search skills is key to finding high-quality research. Advanced searching techniques help you go beyond simple keyword searches to target the most relevant results for your project.

Key techniques

Advanced searching often involves:

  • Search operators (e.g. AND, OR, NOT) to combine or exclude concepts
  • Phrase searching and truncation to capture variations of terms
  • Subject headings and controlled vocabularies to find articles indexed on a topic
  • Filters and limits (e.g. date, study type) to refine your results

Choosing the right approach

Different databases offer different advanced search features. The best approach depends on:

  • The discipline or field of research
  • The databases and platforms you are using
  • The type of review or project you are undertaking

Where to next?

Explore our guides and tools for step-by-step instructions on advanced searching. You can also contact your Faculty Librarian for tailored advice on search strategies in your discipline.

Primo search help

Advanced search options in Primo will make your search more precise and give you more relevant and useful results.

Database help

Learn how to search effectively in databases using search operators, filters, proximity searching and more.

Literature reviews and systematic searches

Develop an effective search strategy for researching evidence across the clinical health and other professions.

Build your skills

Complete self-paced modules and join interactive workshops to develop your knowledge and apply what you've learned.

The GREAT modules

Charles Sturt Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students have access to our Graduate Research Enhancement & Academic Training (GREAT) modules.

These modules are designed to guide you smoothly through every HDR challenge and are accessed via Brightspace.

Attend a workshop

Created for academics, researchers and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students.

Topics include advanced EndNote, copyright and licensing, strategic literature searching in databases, using Gen AI in your research and more. Workshops are available live and on-demand.