My question is why this query does not work? Cursor c = db.rawQuery("SELECT * FROM tbl_staff WHERE PMajor = '%" + spin.getSelectedItem().toString() + "%'", null); Cursor c: it is a cursor for handling my query tbl_staff: my table that consist of PName,PMajor,PCert spin: is spinner that has values which I need for my database query. When I use: if (c.moveToNext()) else (log.d("error query","couldn't do the query!");) It goes to else statement and moveToNext() doesn't work.