How do you search for information effectively

A number of factors can impact upon the effectiveness of your searching, including:

• your choice of keywords
• your choice of search strategies
• your choice of information source/s
   

Relevant keywords form the basis for effective searching. Keywords will:

• often be identified when you are exploring your assessment task.
  
• find far more relevant results than a search using whole or part sentences. Library catalogues and databases are designed to be searched using keywords. It is also more effective to search the Web using carefully selected keywords.
   

There are a number of widely used search strategies which can help you find more relevant information, and reduce the number of inappropriate results. These search strategies may:

• be applied to your keywords (e.g. phrase searching, or combining multiple keywords to reflect different aspects of a topic).
  
• include the options available in the source you are searching (e.g. limiting your search to a particular timeframe or type of document)

It is worth checking the ‘Help' or ‘Search Tips' link in the source you are using, to see what strategies are available (strategies vary slightly from source to source), and how to implement them effectively.

Search in a source that focuses on the type of information you need. Whilst some information may be found in more than one place (e.g. legislation may be found on government websites, and in legal databases), there is usually a 'best option' for the type of information you need (Information sources provides more details).

Check your assessment task for suggestions about possible information sources. Check LibGuides - some LibGuides are course-based and may provide suggestions about information sources, whilst others provide instructions for finding specific sources e.g. newspaper articles or maps.