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Effective Search Strategies

Welcome to our guide on effective research strategies. Whether you're a student, researcher, or lifelong learner, mastering the art of searching for information is crucial. Below, we've outlined key steps and tips to help you navigate the vast world of ac

Techniques and Tools

Planning Your Search

  1. Identify Keywords
    • Start by brainstorming keywords related to your topic. Consider possible synonyms, alternative spellings, plurals, and other variations that might be used in different contexts.
  2. Determine Information Needs
    • Clarify what type of information you're looking for. Are you seeking scholarly articles, popular publications, simple facts, or in-depth discussions? Understanding your information needs will guide your search strategy.

 

Refining your search

Adjusting Search Parameters

If your search yields too many results, consider adding more specific terms, narrowing down your topic, or adjusting the date range to focus on recent publications.

Using Subject-Specific Resources

Explore our subject-specific databases and resources tailored to your area of study. These specialized resources can provide more relevant and targeted information than general search engines.

Evaluating Online Sources

Be critical of the sources you find online. Not all information is trustworthy or accurate. Look for clues like author credentials, publication date, and references to assess credibility.

Making Use of Library Search

  1. Introduction to Library Search
    • Our Library Search feature allows you to search across our online and print resources from a single interface. Start your search by entering keywords related to your topic in the search box.
  2. Refining Search Results
    • Refine your search results using filters such as full-text availability, resource type (e.g., articles, books), subject, date, or location within the library.

 

Boolean Searching

  1. Understanding Boolean Operators
    • Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) help you refine your search queries. Use:
    • "AND" to narrow your results by requiring all specified terms to appear
    • "OR" to broaden your search by including any of the specified terms
    • "NOT" to exclude specific terms.
  2. Using Parentheses
    • Parentheses can be used to group terms and clarify the order of operations in complex search queries.
    • For example:
      "Shakespeare AND (tragedy OR sonnet)
      ensures that each search result contains both "Shakespeare" and either "tragedy" or "sonnet".