Before you can successfully search catalogues, databases and the Internet you will need to develop a good search strategy.
This involves the following steps:
Click across the tabs on this box to explore the basic building blocks of constructing a good search.
Before we begin searching, we need to make sure we have already come up with the appropriate keywords to use. Keywords are identified when we unpack the question which form the main ideas and concepts for our research.
Keywords will help us find the information we are looking for. If you still have to come up with your keywords, head to Defining Your Topic module, to help you get started.
TIP: Keep an eye out for new keywords once you begin searching.
Boolean Operators are the words AND, OR and NOT. When these words are used between keywords in a search string, results are more relevant to your topic which will save you time.
Trucation is a way to efficiently broaden your searches and saves you time.
To truncate a keyword is to remove the ending of the word and add an asterisk (*) in its place. Be sure to end the word at the most appropriate place so to retrieve relevant and useful results.
|
Educat* = educate educated educates educator education... |
Austral*= Australia Australian Australians Australasian... but also: Austral Australopithecine |
Tip: Be careful where you insert the asterisk (*)
Too soon in the word can retrieve irrelevant results
Too late in the word can miss useful results
Phrase searching is a powerful, easy to use tool that will save you time.
When keywords are a phrase (combination of two or more words), use "quotation" marks to lock them together. This will ensure that the search results will find information related to those words combined, in that same order and not search for each word individually.
For example:
Search strings are a combination of your keywords, truncation and boolean operators. An effective search string can save you time by returning accurate results faster.
One Search is a fantastic place to find information for your Social Work assignments. Use the keywords you have identified when you run searches. Check out your key databases on your Social Work Library Guide.
At all times, you need to make sure you are finding good quality sources
The CRAAP test is a useful checklist for evaluating sources using the following criteria:
Each criteria has a number of related questions - you can see these by clicking on the different tabs above. Use these as a guide to help you evaluate your sources.
New or old?
For some subjects, the most recent, up to date information is essential. In others, historical information may be important too. Check your subject outline or with your lecturer to see how recent your assignment sources need to be.
Is the information what you really need?
Who wrote it?
Is the information reliable and correct?
Why does this information exist?
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