Page 123 - DLIS402_INFORMATION_ANALYSIS_AND_REPACKAGING

Information Analysis and Repackaging

Notes 3. Determine whether there are synonyms, related terms, or other variations of the keywords
that should be included.
4. Determine which search features may apply, including truncation, proximity operators,
Boolean operators, and so forth..
5. Read the search instructions on the search engine’s home page. Look for sections entitled
“Help,” “Advanced Search,” “Frequently Asked Questions,” and so forth.
6. Create a search expression, using syntax, which is appropriate for the search engine.
7. Evaluate the results. How many hits were returned? Were the results relevant to your
query?
8. Modify your search if needed. Go back to steps 2-4 and revise your query accordingly.

Library Search Strategies

What is research?

Research is simply the process of finding information. The method is formalized here for those who
must locate a lot of information.

The process in the library...
Here is the process, step by step:
1. Define your subject
2. Look up subject, both general and special.
• Refine def. of subject.
• Make note of terminology.
• Take notes.
• Write down any references which look good.
3. Look up subject in print indexes.
• Refine def. of subject. Narrow subject if possible.
• Make list of KEY WORDS and SEARCH TERMS.
• Note all citations worth looking up.
• Locate all citation sources; take notes.
• Read the bibliographies and write down any good looking references.
• Look up the references and take notes.
4. Locate books on your subject, or books which will cover your subject in the process of
covering their larger subject.
• Look up each book and take notes.
• Write down all references and look them up.
5. Look up subject in electronic indexes.
• Try all the keywords and search terms you have collected.
• Try a large number of search engines.
• Note all good looking citations. Copy all good abstracts.
• Locate the materials. Read and Take notes.
• Each article found, read through the bibliography for more references.

118 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY