Use Keywords and Phrases

When doing research, it’s important to choose search terms carefully in order to find the most relevant information. Since Darren is looking for results related to art history, he should include those keywords in his search. Simply searching “art history” may be too broad, so he could try a more specific phrase like “20th century art history” or “impressionist art history.” This will help narrow down the results.

Use Synonyms and Related Terms

Darren can also think of synonyms and related terms to include. For example, instead of just “art history,” he could search “art historical periods” or “history of painting.” Using a variety of relevant keywords will help capture more useful sources. He may want to try searching:

– art history movements
– art periods
– history of impressionism
– 19th century painters

Expanding the search with synonymous phrases prevents missing out on sources that use slightly different terminology.

Use Boolean Operators

When searching academic databases, Darren can take advantage of Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT to combine keywords. For example, he could search:

– art history AND impressionism
– painting OR sculpture
– realism NOT abstract

This allows him to connect ideas and precisely target the type of results he wants. He could also put phrases in quotation marks for an exact match, like “history of impressionist painting.”

Take Advantage of Advanced Search Options

Many databases and search engines provide advanced options for targeting results. Darren may be able to limit by year, source type, subject terms, etc. He can also give priority to keywords appearing in titles or abstracts. Taking the time to use these advanced search filters will help surface the most relevant art history sources.

In summary

, Darren should use precise keywords and phrases related to art history, include synonymous and related terms, take advantage of Boolean operators to connect ideas, and use any advanced search features available. This will allow him to craft an effective search that returns robust and targeted results for his research.

In addition to using effective search terms, it’s important for Darren to search the right databases and source materials for his art history research. When possible, he should take advantage of scholarly art databases that index books, journals, museums and other primary sources relevant to his topic. Some examples include:

Art Full Text

This database specializes in art publications and includes millions of articles from journals, magazines and museum bulletins. It covers world art from antiquity to the present.

JSTOR

While multidisciplinary, JSTOR contains many major journals in art history and related fields like archaeology and architecture. It offers extensive scholarly content.

Oxford Art Online

This resource from Oxford University Press provides access to multiple art reference works and over 200,000 images of works of art. It covers world art from prehistory forward.

Exploring Primary and Secondary Sources

In addition to these aggregated databases, Darren should seek out primary sources when possible. These may include museum collections, auction archives, digitized manuscripts, documentary photographs, and other original materials relevant to his topic. He can also balance this research with secondary scholarly analyses in journal articles and academic monographs. Consulting both primary evidence and scholarly interpretation will provide depth and context.

Refine Searches with Source Types

Most academic search tools allow limiting by source types, so Darren can focus on peer-reviewed or scholarly publications when needed. This helps exclude less authoritative sources. He can also search newspaper and magazine archives for reviews and contemporary perspectives from the time period he is studying.

Refining Keywords and Phrases

As Darren evaluates the search results from his initial keyword attempts, he may identify terms that are either too broad or too narrow. He can then refine his terminology to hone in on the most relevant materials. This may be an iterative process of trying different keyword variations and combinations until the results best match his research needs.