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EBSCO Databases Research Guide

This guide is designed as an introduction to searching EBSCO-hosted databases. While you may have searched using EBSCO before, the 2025 interface update has brought many new features.

Basic Searching Glossary (Click to Expand)

Keyword: A specific term or concept used to represent your topic in the search.

Example: renewable energy

Phrase search: A search for an exact phrase by placing quotation marks around it.

Example: "climate change" ensures those two words stay together in the results.

Natural Language Search: A way of searching using full sentences or questions, like you would in Google. EBSCO can now interpret natural language when this setting is enabled.

Example: How does climate change affect ocean life?

Filter/Limiter: A tool that helps narrow down search results. Common filters include publication date, full-text availability, peer-reviewed status, and source type (e.g., academic journals).

Example: Applying a filter to show only peer-reviewed journal articles published after 2020.

Getting Started with a Search

To begin, type your topic or question into the main search box on the EBSCO homepage. You can use:

  • Keywords

  • A full question (natural language)

  • A phrase in quotation marks

 

EBSCO will now suggest keywords and related terms as you type. You can click a suggested term to use it in your search.

Screenshot of the EBSCO search bar with a dropdown showing suggested keywords like ‘physical fitness’ and ‘physical activity’ as the user types 'exercise'

Keyword and Phrase Searching

Most searches work best when you use simple, clear keywords or phrases instead of full sentences. When developing keywords or phrases, try to think of the most important aspects of your research question and search accordingly.

Try some of these combinations, or feel free to think of some of your own:

  • education
  • psychoanalysis
  • "climate change"

 

 

 

Tip: Use quotation marks to keep phrases together.
Screenshot of the EBSCO search results for “climate change.”

Natural Language Searching

EBSCO now supports natural language searching. You can type in full questions like:

  • "How does exercise affect mental health?"

  • "What are the causes of climate change?"

To use this Feature:

  1. Click the 'Search Options' tab under your search box

  2. Make sure 'Natural Language Search' is selected

 

Tip: Use natural language when exploring a new topic. Switch to keywords and Boolean operators when you need precision.

Screenshot of EBSCO’s search options with the ‘Natural Language Search’ option highlighted and selected under the Search Options tab.

Reviewing & Refining Your Results

After you Search

  • Use the Filters Button, located at the top of your search results page, to narrow by date, peer-reviewed journals, source type, and more.
  • If your results aren’t quite right, try rewording your search, removing unnecessary words, or combining ideas with AND/OR.
Screen shot of EBSCO search results with filter button highlighted
Screen shot of EBSCO search results with filter options expanded on the right, highlighting full text, peer reviewed, and publication date options.