Use strong keywords: Pick out the most important words/concepts in your research question. Use keywords such as those experts and scholars would use. These are usually nouns
Avoid terms that can be used in many settings (like effect, impact, develop)
Intercultural Contact is not a very effective search. You will be must more successful searching for particular groups (see below).
Use Advanced Search and group keywords by concept: Use OR between synonyms (expands your results); use AND to combine different subjects (narrows your results)
Spain OR Spanish
Mongols AND Chinese
(Spain OR Spanish) AND (Aztec OR Maya OR Inca)
Search multiple endings of a word: Use asterisk, Maya* (Maya, Mayan, Mayas)
Search exact phrases: Use double quotes. "Miami Dolphins"
Limit results: Choose publication years, scholarly or peer-reviewed, full text, etc.
Sort results: Choose most recent first or most relevant first
Library Databases
The following library databases will be the most useful for your project.
PrimoVE searches all of IMSA's database subscriptions. You can also search for just books, just articles, or resources from other colleges & universities.
Collection of 2,000s+ scholarly journals and primary documents in a variety of subjects including history, literature, and science. Note: some titles have an embargo on the most recent year(s). Ask the IRC for details.
