A short tutorial on how to narrow your search results in the database ProQuest Central.

1. Need Help Narrowing Down Your Search
Results in ProQuest Central?

2. If you are logging in remotely, you will need to enter your
library barcode.
Your barcode is 2644000+ 7 digit EMCC ID.
Then, you will be directed to the search page.

3. If you are looking for a specific journal, magazine, or newspaper, click
on Publications.
Search for the publication, and then you can search within the
publication.

4. For general research, clicking on the subject area most closely
aligned with your topic is a great way to narrow your search.
This will limit to the search to subject specific databases within
ProQuest. This tutorial uses the subject area Social Sciences.

5. Next, click on
Advanced search so
that you can enter in
multiple keywords.
If you need help
turning your topic into
keywords, visit our
Research Help page.

6. Enter your keywords in the
search boxes, separating
your concepts by placing
them in their own search
box.
Make sure to click on Full Text to ensure
that you have immediate access to the
articles in your search results.

7. If your concept is two or more words make sure to
place quotation marks around the phrase.
Quotation marks tell the database that you want
that exact phrase in your results.

8. Once you’ve put in your keywords, clicked Full
text, and then searched, the database will
generate a results list.
To narrow these results further, scroll down to
select limiters, underneath Narrow results by

9. There are several built-in
options to narrow your
search down.
Click on the + symbol,
next to the heading to
select limiters.
NOTE: When you change
the publication date,
you must click Update
for the database to
complete the request.

10. If your instructor has asked that you use scholarly articles, or peer
reviewed articles, make sure to click peer reviewed after narrowing
your search.

11. Once you are finished setting your limiters, you can Search within
your results list, to narrow down your search even further.

12. Narrowing your search makes your
results easier to filter through, and
usually gives you better search results!
Need some help finding articles?
Ask a Librarian!
Visit the home page to E-Mail, Chat, or
Schedule a Research Appointment!
For more research tips and tricks, visit
the tutorials page of the library
website!