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Searching a database can feel overwhelming at first, but using fields can help you find more focused and useful results. Most databases begin with a Keyword (or Anywhere) search, which looks for your terms across all fields at once and is a great place to start. As you gain confidence, choosing specific fields lets you narrow your results and save time.
A field is a specific part of a database record, such as author, title, subject, or abstract. In NavigatorSearches, Advanced Search, you can select fields from drop‑down menus and combine them using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to build more precise searches. There’s no single right way to search. Trying different fields is part of the research process, and library staff are always here to help.
If you already know the title of an article, you can use a Title search to find it quickly in the Library’s databases. Copy and paste the article title into the NavigatorSearch box on the Library’s home page, change the drop‑down menu from Keyword to Title, and select Submit. For step‑by‑step guidance, visit the Finding Specific Articles FAQ.
Title (TI) – Limit your search terms to the title of a resource. This would be the most narrow type of search and may not yield the widest range of resources or scholarly articles on your topic.
Author (AU) – Limit your search to author(s) name. See the Authors FAQ.
Subject Terms (SU) – Narrow your search terms to a subject category. Note: Sometimes the code DE (descriptor) is added to the search box when you click on a subject term hyperlink. See the Subject Terms and Database Thesauri page for more detailed information.
Abstract (AB) – Limit your search terms to the abstract of scholarly articles (or other resources that may have an abstract). This search is more narrow than limiting to subject terms but broader than limiting to title. This field code is especially useful when trying to locate articles that use specific research methodology such as empirical, qualitative, quantitative, case studies, etc. See the Research Methodology page and the Empirical Articles FAQ for more detailed information.
Less frequently used field codes include:
Journal Title or Source (SO) - limit search terms to the name of the publication.
ISSN (IS) – International Standard Serial Number – a standard eight-digit number that identifies serial publications (journals, magazines, newspapers, etc.).
ISBN (IB) – International Standard Book Number – a standard ten or thirteen-digit number used to identify books.
**For a more comprehensive publication search, by title, ISSN or ISBN, use the Library's Find a Resource tool. **
ProQuest Advanced Search offers the same range of field codes, with slight variations in terminology, plus “more options” that offer even more detailed fields, which are less frequently used in most academic research.
