def search(self,
                q,
                start=1,
                num=10,
                sortField="username",
                sortOrder="asc"):
        params = {
            "f" : "json",
            "q" : q,
            "start" : start,
            "num" : num,
            "sortField" : sortField,
            "sortOrder" : sortOrder
        }
        url = self._url
        return self._get(
            url = url,
            param_dict=params,
            securityHandler=self._securityHandler,
            proxy_url=self._proxy_url,
            proxy_port=self._proxy_port)