Research Strategies
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Internet Search Engines (click for printer-friendly version)
To choose a search engine, look the engine over carefully.Here are some important issues to consider:
- What search capabilities does it have?
- What help tips does it give you to have you search effectively?
- Does it have an Advanced Search option?
- Does it search one engine or several engines at once (Meta-Searchers)?
- Does it search one engine or several engines at once (Meta-Searchers)?
Meta-Search Tools include: Vivisimo, Metacrawler, and Dogpile, all of which search Google, Yahoo, and Overture. They each search additional, though different, engines as well.
Searching
Most engines allow keyword and subject searching. Type in the words most likely to describe your topic. If your search is a common topic (abortion, gun control, etc.) add other, more specific terms to your search string to limit the number of results.
If you can't think of the right terms to use when searching for books, use the Library of Congress Subject Headings to get ideas and conduct a subject search in the library's online catalog.
Do keyword searching by combining keywords pertaining to your topic.
Steps to follow:
- Pick a topic and create a search question.
- Identify the main terms or concepts (keywords) of your topic or research question-use synonyms as well.
- Scan your results. It is important to evaluate your results carefully. Often, the most specific and well-thought-out search strategies will return some results that are not useful or appropriate to your research topic.
- Revise search if necessary. Broaden or narrow your topic and repeat steps above.
Advanced Searching Techniques
Combining search words
Many databases allow you to combine your search words and phrases with "Boolean connectors," (and, or, not). They will either narrow or broaden your search.
Truncation and wildcards
Use truncation and wildcards to find variations of your search word or variation in the spelling of the word.
| Symbol | Example | What it finds |
|---|---|---|
| * (asterisk) | educat* | Finds all the different endings of the word. i.e. educator, educated, educating, education, and educational. |
| ? (question mark) | Organi?ation | Finds both spelling of the word. i.e. organisation and organization |
Finding books
Use your library's Online Catalog. Note that most book records will contain other subject terms that you can use in your research strategies. Click on the book title to find these.
- Use your campus ID number to request books from other KC REACHE libraries-ask a librarian for assistance.
Finding the full text of articles
- Many databases provide a link to the complete article (full-text).
- Before you begin to search, select the full text limiter box. Most databases have this feature. This insures that you will retrieve the complete article, not just the citation.
Finding articles in scholarly journals
- Many databases also have a feature that allows you to limit the results of your search to articles in peer reviewed or scholarly journals.
- This feature is also a check box that you can select before you begin your search.
Saving, printing, and e-mailing
Many databases allow records and full-text (when available) to be downloaded onto a disk or the computer, printed or emailed. Look for this feature in the database you are using. Usually, you will have to have the full text article opened in order to use the print or email features.
