Break down your topic or research question into keywords.
Topic: What are the financial benefits of solar panels?
Keywords: financial, benefits, solar panels
Brainstorm for alternative words an author might have used for your main concepts.
Keywords: financial, benefits, solar panels
Alternative Keywords: cost, money, savings, advantages, solar energy, sun power
Combine your search terms to create several potential search strategies to find relevant results. For phrases use "" or () to keep words together & in order.
Search Strategy #1 financial AND benefits AND "solar panels"
Search Strategy #2 cost AND savings AND "solar energy"
Search Strategy #3 money AND advantages AND "solar panels" OR "solar energy"
Search Strategy #4 (financial OR money) AND (benefits OR savings) AND "solar panels"
Combine similar search terms with OR to expand your results.
For example: hypertension OR "high blood pressure"
Combine different search terms with AND to narrow your results.
For example: hypertension AND women