Scopus searches the bibliographic record (not full text articles). The default document search is title/abstract/keyword. Use the dropdown menu next to the search bar to select a different search field.
Keywords include those provided by authors, and index keywords from MeSH, Emtree or Compendex.
Choosing search terms
- Choose search terms which are specific or closely related to your research topic.
- Choose terms you might use when discussing the topic with a colleague, including current jargon.
- Include synonyms and abbreviations.
- The search is not case-sensitive.
- Using the singular form of a word retrieves the singular, plural, and possessive forms of most words.
Using Boolean operators Learn about Boolean Operators
- You can use Boolean operators (AND, OR, AND NOT)
- If you use more than one operator in your search, Scopus interprets your search according to the order of precedence.
- To search for an exact phrase, including any stop words, spaces and punctuation, enclose the phrase in brackets: {oyster toadfish}.
- To find articles where search terms appear adjacent to each other enclose the terms in double quotes: "cell behavior"
- PRE/n "precedes by". The first term in the search must precede the second by a specified number of terms (n).
- W/n "within". The terms in the search must be within a specified number of terms (n). Either word may appear first.
- Use the following guidelines when choosing a number for "n":
- To find terms in the same phrase, use 3, 4, or 5.
- To find terms in the same sentence, use 15.
- To find terms in the same paragraph, use 50.
- To find adjacent terms, use 0.
- ? Replace a single character anywhere in a word. Use one ? for each character you want to replace
- * Replace multiple characters anywhere in a word.
