Constructing a Search Strategy
- State your research topic as completely as you can.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
- Think about your topic and circle two or three of the most important concepts in your search topic above.
- Write each concept in a top space, then list synonymous or related terms, if applicable. If a thesaurus is available for your database, use appropriate terms from it as well.
First Concept Second Concept Third Concept _______________________ _______________________ ________________ OR_____________________ OR_____________________ OR_____________ OR_____________________ OR_____________________ OR_____________ OR_____________________ OR_____________________ OR_____________
- Insert connectors AND, OR, NOT, or others specified by the database software you are using, between the concepts above to combine them into a search statement.
- Write out the search statements you will enter in order to get your first sets:
- ______________________________________________________
- ______________________________________________________
- ______________________________________________________
- ______________________________________________________
Example:
I would like to find literature on academic achievement of children of single parent families.First Concept Second Concept Third Concept __academic achievement_ _____children________ ____single parent+__ OR___grades_________ OR___adolescen?_____ OR______________ OR___performance_____ OR_________________ OR______________ Search statement: (academic achievement or grades or performance) and (children or adolescen?) and (single parent+)
- Select the database(s) that best cover your topic.
__________________________________________________________
Ask Us (Chat Now), Tell Us about the Library web site. This document last modified Friday, 25-Apr-2008 14:44:35 EDT Staff