Different tools for reporting AND finding information:
Reference sources provide BASIC OVERVIEWS of and FACTS on a topic. These are great tools to start with! Use them to help you create a list of keywords for searching and fill in the Who? What? When? Where? Why? story of your topic.
Books generally provide IN-DEPTH overviews, background and specific information on a topic. In other words, books provide a very holistic view of a topic.
Articles really zero in on specific aspects of a topic. Academic articles (aka: peer reviewed or scholarly) in particular present a very narrow focus and report on actual research done by experts in that field of study. Peer reviewed articles have to go through a rigorous process of review by other experts in that field before publication.
Databases are only smart enough to play the matching game with your keywords!
Me: Match ONE keyword for me!
Research Tool: Here are items that contain that ONE keyword:
Me: Match TWO keywords for me!
Research Tool: Here are items that contain BOTH of those keywords:
Me: Match THREE keywords for me!
Research Tool: Here are items that contain ALL THREE keywords:
Me: Match THREE keywords for me and find alternate endings for "art" and "paint"!
Research Tool: Here are items that contain ALL THREE keywords with alternate endings on "art" and "paint":
Google plays the matching game, too! (more or less)
Which search statement would give you the FEWEST number of hits? (Tip: the * picks up alternate endings. study* = study, studying)