Research Fundamentals: Step 2b: Search strategies

When constructing a search, ask yourself these questions...

• Are the words too specific?
• Are they too broad or general?
• Do you need to add another term or phrase?
• Are you using correct terminology?
• Is there another word with the same meaning?

Truncation 

Truncating words (replacing part of a word with an * symbol) will retrieve all alternative words. For example, sustain* will retrieve sustainable, sustainability etc.

Wildcard

Internal truncation (also called wildcards and often using the ? symbol) will search for alternative spellings. For example, behavi?r will retrieve behavior or behaviour.

Combine search terms using Connectors, also called Boolean operators.

AND: e.g. prohibition AND Volstead Act, this will retrieve results containing BOTH terms and narrow your search.

OR: e.g. prohibition OR illegal alcohol, this will retrieve results with EITHER and will broaden your search

NOT: e.g. temperance movement NOT mafia, this will retrieve references with temperance movement and will not include mafia and will narrow your search.

Once you begin searching FindIt you will most likely need to limit your results. Consider these options:

• Date: specify a particular time period e.g. last two years
• Full-text only: full-text is best if you are searching for journal articles
• Scholarly/peer-reviewed: find only peer-reviewed articles
• Document type: you may be looking specifically for business reports, company information etc
• Language: you can limit to a particular language
• Country or geography: perhaps you need content from a particular country

• Identify the types of resources you will need i.e. peer-reviewed articles, case studies, books etc.
• Use your Reading List to find relevant books, journal articles etc.
• Find one good journal article and identify potential resources from the list of references.
• Ensure that you understand the citation detail i.e. journal article, book chapter, web page.
• Develop search terms using the keywords identified in Step 1. Consider synonyms etc.