Databases offer various options to refine and structure your search. Use the LIMIT to search ABSTRACT for the most relevant articles. All databases, including Google Scholar, have article linking buttons to get to the complete article. However, it is not always possible to get the complete article instantly - authors don't give permission, UniSC does not have the journal etc
You can search Google Scholar for articles on your topic. However, there are some databases which will give you fewer, but quality, results.
When you search databases or the internet you are searching for WORDS not ideas.
Recreate your hypothesis into a series of keywords.
Databases, including internet search engines like Google, operate with protocols.
" " - parentheses are used for a phrase
"sunshine coast"
"random breath testing"
"george bush"
AND - for a more specific search join multiple terms with AND
roads AND wildlife AND "sunshine coast"
OR - broadens your search when:
NOT excludes results, but should be used with care, best after an initial search has identified a group of ireelevant results
lions NOT football
NEAR, WITHIN, W/N Some databases give other options, such as NEAR or within.
NEAR finds a term close to another, while WITHIN specifies how close:
roads within 5 wildlife will find
"making roads safe for wildlife", "wildlife safety on roads", "safer roads for wildlife crossing"
NEAR or WITHIN searches are more flexible than phrase searches and return more relevant results than AND searches