Advanced Search

Advanced Search is a powerful way to search with ProQuest. Enter your word or phrase, and use the fields to focus your search.

See Browse Index for tips on working with browseable lists, such as Browse Authors.

See hints on improving your searches for tips on creating more effective searches. See frequently asked questions on Advanced searches for answers to some commonly asked questions.

1. Enter a word or phrase into the search field.
2. If you're combining your search with additional search words:

• Choose the operator (for example, AND or OR) you want to use. (For more information on using operators, see the Search Tips.)
• Add your search word to the search field next to the operator list.
• From the drop-down menu, select the field to search. (For more information on using these fields, see the Search Tips.)
• Continue adding words as needed. If you want to add more terms, click Add a row.

3. When you finish entering your terms, click Search.

You can focus your search by using the following options (some are only available after clicking More Options):

• Limit your search to articles by a specific Author.
• Set a date range.
• Limit your search to a specific descriptor.
• Limit your search to a specific Language.
• Limit your search to a specific Document Type.
• Limit your search to a specific Identifier (Key Concept)
• Search a specific Journal title.
• Limit your search to a specific Record type
• Limit your search to a specific Subject.
• Limit your search to a specific Intended Audience.

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Author (Browse)

Enter an author's name to limit your search to articles written by that author or reviewer. Or click Browse authors to select a name from a list of the available authors.

You can enter the author's name in any order. Searching the author field for John A. Smith produces the same results as searching for Smith, John A.

You can enter multiple author's names, separating them by AND to find articles by two authors.

For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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Citation and Abstract (ERIC)

When you select Citation and abstract from the drop-down menu, ProQuest searches the following fields:

• Article Title
• Abstract
• Author
• Notes
• Subject
• Source

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Date Range

The default for this field is All dates, which searches all information in the current databases.

To limit your search, select the desired date range from the drop-down menu.

If you select a date range option (for example, On this date... or Before this date...), a field (or fields) will appear for you to enter the desired dates.

Enter the desired date(s).

For information on the date formats ProQuest supports, see the date formats reference.

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Descriptors

You can use this field to limit your search to articles with specific subjects (using the Main Subject Headings and Minor Subject Headings index). To limit your search to a specific subject, enter the text. Or click Browse descriptors to select a subject from a list of the available subjects.

For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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Document Language

To limit your search to a document originally published in a specific language, select the language from the drop-down menu.

For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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Document Type

By default, ProQuest searches all document types. To limit your search to a specific document type (for example, bibliography, book chapter, or journal article), select that document type from the drop-down menu.

For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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Identifier

The Identifier field contains a concise one-sentence summary of the article, listing major concepts in the article. You can focus your search to articles on specific topics by entering a concept in this field. Or click Browse identifiers (key concepts) to select a key concept from a list of those available.
For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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Identifier / Key Concepts

The Identifier concisely summarizes the content of the original document and lets you search terms and concepts beyond those in the controlled vocabulary. Use keyword(s) to search this field.

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Journal Title / Source

By default, ProQuest searches all titles in the currently selected database.

To limit your search to a specific journal, enter the journal's title. Or click Browse journals to select a title from a list of the available journals.

For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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Record Type

ERIC classifies its records by type on the basis of the format of the original record (for example, book or journal article). By default, ProQuest searches all record types. To limit your search to a specific record type, select that record type from the drop-down menu.

For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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Subject (Browse)

Enter a subject, or click Browse subjects to open the Browse Subjects window.

The terms in the Browse Subjects window are listed in alphabetical order, making it easy for you to browse them. Scan the list for the term you want to use for your search.

You can move to terms starting with a particular letter by entering the letter in the box and clicking Find Term. You will be taken to the first term beginning with that letter.

You can also search for a term. Enter the term in the box and click Find Term. You will be taken to the nearest match (alphabetically).

If you reach the end of a page and haven't come to the term you want, just click Next to move to the next page.

When you've found the word you're looking for, click Add to Search to add the term to your current search.

For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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Target Audience / Intended Audience

By default ProQuest will include all intended audiences. To limit your search to articles intended for a particular audience, select the desired intended audience from the drop-down menu.

For more information on using this field, see the Search Tips.

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