LibAnswers

Step 1: Formulate a research question

Begin by framing your research as a clear, focused question. The question will serve as the foundation for developing your search strategy.

Example: How does music education in early childhood influence cognitive development?

Step 2: Identify the main concepts

When searching library databases, it's best to break your topic into key concepts or ideas rather than entering it as a full sentence or question.

The number of concepts will depend on your research question. A question may have one, two, three, or more concepts, though have two or more is generally most effective.

Example:

Step 3: Develop a list of search terms for each concept

Think about the different terms or phrases an author might use to refer to the main concepts in your research question. Consider:

• Synonyms and related terms (doctor OR physician OR clinician)
• Alternate spellings (pediatric OR paediatric; behaviour OR behavior)
• Alternate word endings (education OR educate OR educator)
• Antonyms (success OR failure; increase OR decrease)
• Acronyms (cognitive behavioral therapy OR CBT)
• Brand and generic names (olanzapine OR Zyprexa)

Example:

Use truncation (or wildcards) to broaden your search. In most databases, an asterisk (*) is used, though some databases may use other symbols. When an asterisk is used at the end of a root word, the database will retrieve all possible endings for that word.

Example: educat* = education OR educator OR educators OR educate OR educates

Use quotation marks (") for phrase searching, or when search terms contain two or more words.

Example: "music education" OR "music training"

Truncation and quotation marks can be used at the same time.

Example: "music lesson*" AND preschooler*

For detailed information on how truncation, wildcards, quotation marks, and other syntax elements function in each database, refer to CUE Library's Searching Syntax Guide for Common Database Platforms.

Step 4: Combine concepts and keywords using Boolean operators

Boolean operators are used to link search terms together in a way that the database can interpret. While AND and OR are the most common, NOT can also be used to exclude particular search terms.

Boolean OR connects keywords within the same concept. It broadens your search by retrieving results that include any of the specified terms. The more keywords you use with OR, the more results you are likely to get.

Boolean AND connects different concepts. It narrows your search by retrieving only results that include all of the specified terms.

According to the table above, the search string for Concept 1 would be:

"music* education" OR "music* training" OR "music lesson*" OR "music class*"

The search string for Concept 2 would be:

"early childhood" OR child* OR toddler* OR preschooler*

The search string for Concept 3 would be:

"cognitive development" OR "cognitive growth" OR "intellectual development" OR "psychological development"

In the APA PsycInfo database, for example, a search might be structured with each concept entered into a separate search box:

Brackets can also be used to create a single-line search string. In this format, the search terms for each concept are grouped within brackets and connected with OR. The bracketed groups are then connected with AND to combine the concepts:

("music* education" OR "music* training" OR "music lesson*" OR "music class*") AND ("early childhood" OR child* OR toddler* OR preschooler*) AND ("cognitive development" OR "cognitive growth" OR "intellectual development" OR "psychological development")

Step 5: Evaluate the results

After running your search, review the titles and abstracts of the results to determine whether they are relevant to your topic. If they aren't consider revising your search terms and trying again.

If you need help, visit the library's Research Help Desk during opening hours or contact your liaison librarian to book a consultation.