INFORMATION SEARCH STRATEGY

1. FORMULATE YOUR QUESTION.

• Pick a general topic. Do some preliminary reading.
• Narrow the topic. State your specific information need in several clear, specific sentences.

2. WRITE DOWN KEY TERMS.

3. FORMULATE YOUR STRATEGY.

• What is the general subject? What are some related subjects?
• What time span am I considering for the subject (current, historical...)?
• How far back in time do I need to research for published information?
• What scholarly level (level of difficulty) is required?
• What is my focus or perspective?
• What are my purposes, biases, limitations?
• What types of resources are needed? (periodicals, books, references, maps, charts, graphics, statistics, AV)?
• Who would have produced the information I need? What disciplines, authors, organizations, nations/geographical regions are producing information about this topic?
• Who are the leading authorities in this area? Could it have been produced by another discipline?
• How much information do I need for what I am doing?
• How comprehensive does my search need to be for what I am doing?

4. CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE DATABASES.

• What databases are appropriate?
• What are some alternate strategies?

5. CONDUCT THE SEARCH.

6. EVALUATE YOUR RETRIEVED INFORMATION.

7. MODIFY YOUR STRATEGY AND REDO THE SEARCH, IF NECESSARY.

SOME TIPS:

1. START EARLY!!! (Library research nearly always takes longer than you think it will. Leave yourself some time to refine or change your topic, or to get materials through Interlibrary Loan.)
   
   
2. MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE CORRECT DATABASE for your needs! Recheck this frequently. Make sure you are using the correct commands for the database you are using. Know how the database works.
   
   
3. CONSULT YOUR FRIENDLY REFERENCE LIBRARIAN. Part of his job is to answer your questions, and it's sometimes surprising how quickly and how much a professional can find information. It helps if you have a clear idea of what you need to know. It also helps if you make an appointment, but feel free to drop by without one.

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