Search databases using keywords, such as concepts or subject phrases, linked together by and, or not used to identify articles and sources. Once you have identified your topic, selecting your keywords is pretty simple.  

1.  Divide your topic into concepts/segments/pieces.
   
   In the question, "How do the experiences of first-gen students compare based on socioeconomic status or race, ethnicity, culture, or background?" The concepts are First-generation students, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and culture. 
    
2. Brainstorm for synonyms and related terms.
   
   You will need to translate these terms to keywords later when searching databases for articles and sources. Even if a combination of words works well in one database, you may have to change keywords to find results in another database. 

3. Create your search by combining your keywords using and, or, not.

• And is used to narrow your search. The results returned will contain both sets of keywords.
• Or is used to expand your search.  Results returned will return either keyword. 
• Not will limit your search and exclude a keyword from the results. 

         You can also use parentheses to combine your search strings:

                     (first generation OR first-gen) and (socioeconomic OR financial aid)
 

4.  Follow the database-specific language.

As you search, keep track of the words that appear in the detailed descriptions, or records, of your results list in the fields labeled with headings such as subjects, descriptors, or subject headings.   These synonyms and related terms are the specific vocabulary used to describe your search term in that database or discipline.  Using these in your search can often improve your search results by making them more accurate and efficient/in less time.

Phrases
Use quotation marks to search for exact phrases.

Boolean Operators

• AND narrows your results (because all search terms must be present in the resulting records).
  Ex: bridges AND history AND civil engineering (the black triangle in the middle of the Venn diagram below represents the result set for this search).
  Note: Most search engines and databases will assume your search terms are connected with AND.
   
• OR broadens your results (because search results may contain either or both search terms).
  Ex: university OR college OR higher education (the entire Venn diagram below represents the result set for this search).
  Note: OR is beneficial if your search terms have synonyms.
   
• NOT excludes results with whichever search term follows it.
  Ex: mercury NOT planet (the dark green section in the Venn diagram represents the result set for this search).
  The order of your search terms matters when using NOT (results with the second search term will be excluded).