Text word searching can be useful. Use this link for more information on the advantages and disadvantages of text word and title word searching. But, text word searching should not be your first choice.
Why shouldn't I rely on text word searching as my first choice?
Because text word searching can be sloppy, and can miss relevant information if the author uses another term/synonym to describe the same topic.
EXAMPLE:
One author publishes an article using the word "AIDS" in the title and abstract, while another uses "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome" and yet another uses "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome." If a text word search was conducted using only one of these terms, then only one of the three articles would be retrieved, even though all are equally relevant.
Another example that makes the same point is locating articles on "prisoners." You would miss many articles if you did not also perform text word searches using "prison," "prisons," "incarcerated," "incarceration," "imprisoned," "jail," "juvenile detention facilities," etc.
