You may start out with a few books or articles that you have already found, or that were recommended to you by your tutor. To find additional material you need to search;
- Databases (for journal articles) and,
- Library catalogues for books
When searching for books or articles think about the keywords you are entering into the search box that define your topic.
- Think of synonyms, scientific / latin names, alternative phrases or alternative spellings of your keywords to capture all the relevant articles
- Use keyword or subject headings in databases as links to other articles on the same topic
- Use any options available to limit your search results by date / subject area
Try out the
Search String Generator below to include all your concepts, keywords and synonyms together - copy and paste the search string into Summon or any database you are using.
Top Tip!
See what results you get and refine your strategy.
- If you have too few results, make your search terms broader or remove some keywords.
- If you get too many results, add some more specific keywords.
- As you read you may discover new keywords to use, keep returning and refining your search.