An Overview of Common Search Types

Here's a summary of the most commonly available search paths found in Gale database products. You will find links to each type of search on the search path bar.

Note: The actual search types available depend on the collection you are currently using and the search options your library has enabled.

Search Type Description
Basic Search
Usually two or more radio buttons that let you target your search, for example, to search just the keywords associated with documents, or to the full-text of all documents. Basic Search is intended to be an all-purpose search that is useful as you begin your research.
Subject Guide Search Browses a hierarchical list of subject terms (known as the Subject Guide), allowing you to select topics, subdivisions, and related subjects.
Advanced Search Allows you to build as simple or as complex a search expression as you want by selecting specific areas of the database to search, known as indexes. You can even build new searches based on previous searches.
CCL Advanced Search Offers an alternate way to build an Advanced Search expression by selecting an index from a drop-down menu or by typing one or more index abbreviations. Logical operators may be used. You can even build new searches based on previous searches.

Some databases offer additional types of searches, based on the content found in that database. For example, literature databases provide a Person Search to look for documents about and by authors and Works Search to locate documents about works and the full-text of the works themselves.

In addition you can search for dictionary definitions of words or terms using the Dictionary link from the toolbar.

Hint: The Currently Searching message just below the banner bars tells you which product(s) you are searching.