A Search Strategy for Research Papers and Speeches
To complete this module Read the Objectives. Read the module contents below and review previous modules as needed.
A search strategy is an organized plan for gathering information. Developing a search strategy will help you locate appropriate information from a variety of sources. For a research paper or speech, the following is a useful search strategy:
- Choose a topic that interests you
and that is:
- not too broad - with hundreds of books and articles written
about it, as in the examples below:
- AIDS, drug abuse, South Africa, Civil War
- not too narrow - with nothing or only one or two articles
written about it, as in the examples below:
- the effect of drug abuse on the athletic performance of 18-year-old hockey players in Argentina
- a comparison of the marketing strategies of two barber shops in Montpelier, VT
- not too broad - with hundreds of books and articles written
about it, as in the examples below:
- Use general sources, such as encyclopedias (See Background Information in Module 3) or textbooks, to define and focus the topic, develop an overview and gather background information. The bibliographies in these sources are usually excellent starting points, since they provide a list of books and articles that are not only pertinent, but also authoritative.
- Identify the main concepts of your topic and generate
a list of search terms and subject headings for each.
Use these search terms to search the topic in reference books, the VSC
library catalog, and research databases.
- Identify the main concepts.
The effect of television viewing on aggressive behavior in teenagers
- Make a list of additional keywords or phrases for each concept.
television viewing aggressive behavior teenagers aggression adolescents
- Identify the main concepts.
- Search the VSC library catalog (See
Using the VSC Library Catalog in Module 3) under the appropriate subject
headings and keywords to find books and audiovisual materials in the CSC
Library. Be sure to see if there are any bibliographies listed. These
should be examined first. Also, when you find a good book in the VSC Catalog,
check items with the same subject or browse through books nearby on the
shelf to find additional books.
- Locate Research Databases (See
Periodical Articles in Module 3 ) to find useful journal, magazine,
and newspaper articles on the topic. Be sure to consult a reference librarian
to identify appropriate databases for your topic.
- Use Periodical Locator to determine whether periodicals are available
at the CSC Library or online
- Locate materials published by the U.S. Government (
See Government Information in Module 3 ).
- Locate biographical material (See
Biographical Information in Module 3), when appropriate, by using
biographical indexes.
- Locate statistical resources (See
Statistical Information in Module 3), when appropriate, to provide
statistics on your topic.
- Search the Internet (See
Using Internet Sources: Module 3 ). Be sure to keep a copy of what
you find if you refer to it or cite it; it might not be there when you
or your professor go back to verify its existence!
- Evaluate all sources (See Evaluating Sources of Information: Module 5) carefully, especially information you find on the Internet.