V - Filters - Effectively Using Library Databases - LibGuides at Kentucky Christian University

Applying Filters to Database Searches

Filters are tools built into most databases.

They allow users to better find information by providing resources that are filtered by:

Academic credibility (Peer-Reviewed) - scholarly research evaluated by experts.
Availability (Full-Text) - complete resources available for immediate use.
Publication date - how old the research is.
Document and publication types - type of material (book, dissertation, journal, newspaper article, speech, etc.).
Subject - specific academic discipline (history, literature, philosophy, science, etc.).
Language - the language the research is written in.
And more!

Try searching with and without filters to see what a difference it makes in cleaning up your results in a way that benefits you.

It's OK to select multiple filters at once. Actually, this is most effective.

Finding the Filters

Filters can be found either below the search bar in a database, or in a tabbed menu on the left-hand sidebar of a database's search window.

To apply a filter, simply click the checkbox or bubble beside the ones you wish to use.

Or, select an option from a drop-down menu beside filter you wish to apply (such as when you select a language).