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Databases

Find some helpful library databases and some search tips to use them.

Databases

Search tips

  • Be aware of differences in American English and Australian English spelling
  • If a word is sometimes hyphenated, search using the hyphen and find both terms
  • Truncation finds all words with different endings eg. use addict* to find addict/s, addicted, addiction/s
  • Wildcard symbols finds words spelt in different ways eg. organi?ation will find organisation and organization (Wildcard symbol can vary between databases)
  • Double quotation marks keep words together as a phrase eg. "mental health"
  • Limits will refine your search results: language, human, gender, age, date or type of publication
  • Check the database Help or Tips to find advice on which symbol to use for truncation or wildcard, and other helpful tips

Searching databases

Using Google Scholar

Set up Google Scholar preferences to find items held by La Trobe University Library when you are searching off campus.

Further help with using Google Scholar