Developing a search strategy Identifying Search Terms What are the key concepts to focus on? · Subject of interest · Researching particular condition or problem? · Interested in certain invention or tool? · Certain setting or environment? · Demographic? Must frame your subject in key words and short phrases Building Search Terms How do you know authors of literature have used same keywords as you? *Synonyms: different words that mean the same thing. *Consider more specific or broader terms that could be used. *Consider different word forms that may have been used. Build Your Search Searching using Boolean ... · AND - searches for articles containing or more concepts where both/all are featured · OR - searches for articles that contain search terms both separately and together · NOT - searches articles that contain one concept but excludes another Refine Your Search Many resource collections let you specify which field you want to search in: . Title- finds only those articles with keyword in title, fewer hits but higher relevancy · Abstract- searches for articles with keyword in abstract or summary, more results and fairly relevant · Full text- searches for articles with keyword in anywhere in article, more results but might not be relevant Can also limit results according to preferences ... 1. Results that only link to full text 2. Only peer reviewed journals 3. Articles from certain time period Truncation: shortens to a word stem-> child* will find child, children, childhood Wild cards: allows for searching where letter or two in middle of word changes-> wom*n could be women or woman Too many results= add another search term, limit search to title or abstract of articles Too little results= fewer or broader search terms, whole articles
Managing Search Results Build list of useful resources. Email, print or save results, don't rely on weblinks/URL's. Articles can be printed or saved. Useful to keep for referencing. Reference management software like endnote.