While the Quick Search is designed to support precise searching using strings of keywords and search filters, Google Scholar is designed to work better when searching with full sentences and questions. This is called natural language, because it mimics how we tend to think in questions.
A search strategy is the what, where, and scope of your search.
Words Matter! Search results can change dramatically with the choice of words, and the addition of words, used in the search. Know that library databases and Quick Search will work best with keyword searching as opposed to searching with a question.
THINK: media influence prison overcrowding, not Does media influence public perception of prison overcrowding?
COMBINING KEYWORDS
The three words that you can use to combine your search keywords most efficiently are: and, or, and not. Take a look at the image below to get a sense of how they work.
Take a look at this super cute Boolean Search graphic from Muck Rack.
Two symbols you can also use to further refine your search keywords are "quotation marks" and the asterisk *.
"Quotation marks" searches for groups of words together. This works best if you are looking for a title or phrase.
Some databases or library resources use parentheses () to group words instead.
The asterisk * is usually found above the number eight on most keyboards. Use the asterisk * to abbreviate words so you can find all possible spelling variations in your search results. It will also make your search results increase, typically.