Is it scholarly?
Do I have to research the author of my quote?
Should I find old or new information?
1) Make slight tweaks to your keywords to see if the results change. For example see how the results differ for these searches:
2) The more abstract a concept is, the more you need to brainstorm alternative wording/keywords for the same thing. Keep track of keywords like you keep track of artist names, to refer back to. Even if you only find one good article, that's a successful search! Read the citations and follow the breadcrumbs. For example:
3) Use the Select a Field dropdown to search by Author, and use the options to the left of your search results to limit by date, format, etc.
For example, here are results about Hilma af Klint and here are results by Hilma af Klint. Add search terms into another search bar to get quotes from artists about specific topics. For example Hilma af Klint AND consciousness
4) When looking up perspectives from other disciplines, remember you only need information that will support your claims about your own work, so look for books or overview articles that will summarize big ideas for you. Remember this isn't a history, psychology, or philosophy thesis.
5) Try searching just one database if you're getting too many results from other disciplines, but remember you're missing out on non-art perspectives.
Not everything you find on the web will end up being cited in your thesis, but that's okay, there are still a lot of uses for what you find:
You can search through a global database of theses (Master's programs) and dissertations (PhD programs). Keep these tips in mind!
This database isn't great at sorting your search results by relevance, so stick to broad topics, and try an Advanced Search to limit by subject. For example, here are the results for displacement when you limit to Fine Arts
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