Search Strategy Worksheet

Example of Completed Worksheet     Further Assistance
This worksheet is for use in conjunction with our guide on How to Search Successfully, and our Library Research Essentials tutorial.


STEP 1 : Think About and Define Your Topic

In one or two sentences summarize your search topic in your own words. If possible, state your topic in the form of a question you want to answer.

                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                       

 

STEP 2 : Identify the Main Concepts

From the question(s) or statement(s) above, pick out the main ideas or concepts. In your search statement, you will combine these terms using the and connector to indicate that all concepts must be included in your search results.

First Concept           AND         Second Concept           AND         Third Concept

                                                                                                                                     

Note: You might not have three concepts - this is only a sample. Sometimes there may be two, sometimes four...

 

STEP 3 : Develop a List of Search Terms

For each concept in your topic, list other words that could be used in writing about that concept, e.g. synonyms, related terms, broader or narrower terms. In your search statement, you will combine these synonyms/related terms using the or connector to indicate that any of these terms is acceptable for that concept.

First Concept         AND           Second Concept           AND           Third Concept

                                                                                                                                 

or                                             or                                                   or                          

or                                             or                                                   or                          

or                                             or                                                   or                          

 

Note: Don't forget to use a truncation symbol where appropriate, e.g. canad* will find canada, canadian, canadians... (use a $ if you are searching the Library Catalogue).

 

STEP 4 : Combine Search Terms

Create a few possible search statements by combining terms using the and and or connectors. Use parentheses around the ors if your statement uses both types of connectors e.g.
(demographic* or population) and canad*.

                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                       

 

Ask a Librarian if you need further assistance!

July 15, 2008