Answered By: Amy Krug
Last Updated: Nov 19, 2021     Views: 128

To narrow a search you need to think about your general topic and consider:

  • Add another key idea to your search - general topic AND abc
  • Who (populations) - age, gender, race, ethnicity
  • What (types) - specific instances of the general topic
  • When (time) - current, historical, specific dates
  • Where (places) - local, national, global
  • Why (evaluate) - causes, impacts, treatments, outcomes

For example, a general topic might be sleep deprivation. This topic could be narrowed:

  • Another key idea - sleep deprivation AND learning; sleep deprivation AND video games
  • Who - sleep deprivation AND college students; sleep deprivation AND WOMEN
  • What - chronic sleep deprivation; acute sleep deprivation; microsleeps
  • When - sleep deprivation AND last five years
  • Where - sleep deprivation AND United States
  • Why - sleep deprivation AND causes; sleep deprivation AND prevention