When beginning a search, break down your search statement into concepts rather than trying to type in an entire sentence. With a topic like AIDS, try some sample searches to see how the database is interpreting your topic. Don't be intimidated by too many results. Instead, try and figure out how to narrow your search and improve your strategy. Often times, bad searches provide a great deal of insight into how many interpretations there can be of concepts. Is it searching for aids as in "foreign aids" or financial assistance, or is it actually searching for the disease and identifying relevant articles? Look at the subject headings within results that seem appropriate in order to become familiar with better ways to search for your topic.
Subject Headings are terms that the database uses when searching for articles. Identify synonyms or related terms to improve your search strategy. Subject headings within the citations may link you to other related articles on your topic
With a broad topic such as AIDS, it's a good idea to narrow your topic by thinking about a how a specific geographic location or target population is related to your topic. For hints about how a broad subject can be narrowed down, use the thesaurus or subject guide within the individual databases.
Try
a short Boolean Quiz.