ELECTRONIC SOURCES:
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SEARCH TOOLS & SEARCH STRATEGY:
PLANNING YOUR SEARCH
Why Plan?
It's very tempting, once you've decided you need to find some information, to go straight to the library catalogue or an internet machine and start typing. Taking the time to think about what information you need and which would be the best sources to use will save you valuable time.
Planning your search before you start will:-
Prevent you looking for information in the wrong places.
Ensure you don't miss relevant material and have to perform the search again at a later date.
Save time sifting through irrelevant material.
Before you start your search you need to decide what kind of information you need. Do you want an overview of a topic? An in-depth look at a subject? or a simple fact? Once you have determined this it is easier to decide what sources you need to use.
Choosing Your Keywords
When planning a search it is important to think carefully about the KEYWORDS you will be using. Keywords are the words which describe the subject you are interested in. Think about the information you need, try and pick out the words or terms which are important and consider using those as keywords. Think of related terms or synonyms, broader and narrower terms, which you can use if your original keywords don't give you enough, or the right kind of, results.
A useful checklist is given below:
- Define your topic and settle on some keywords.
- Be specific.
- Think about synonyms, e.g. women and females.
- Be aware of American spellings, e.g. labour and labor.
- Using plurals can make a difference.
- Using capital letters at the start of names etc. can affect your search (e.g. Captain Cook or captain cook)
Search Tools
The following Search Tools are all accessible through LISA: the library web site.
- The Library Catalogue
- Electronic Databases
- The World Wide Web
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