How to perform an SQLite query within an Android application?

Alternatively, db.rawQuery(sql, selectionArgs) exists.

Cursor c = db.rawQuery(select, null);

This will return you the required cursor

Cursor cursor = db.query(TABLE_NAME, new String[] {"_id", "title", "title_raw"}, 
                "title_raw like " + "'%Smith%'", null, null, null, null);