Phrase searching is a powerful tool that allows you to precisely define how you want specific words to appear in your search results. For instance, if you’re researching “job satisfaction,” you likely expect these two words to be adjacent, without any other words in between, within the text of the document. To ensure the database accurately captures this, enclose your search term in quotation marks, prompting it to search for the exact phrase.
However, it’s essential to exercise caution when using phrase searching. Placing too many words in quotations may result in the database returning zero results. It’s best to reserve phrase searching for well-established phrases—words that you anticipate other authors have frequently used in their research. This approach ensures that your searches yield relevant and meaningful results without inadvertently limiting the scope of your inquiry.