LIBRARY & MEDIA SERVICES INFORMATION
Discover Your Library: Developing a Search Strategy
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| Developing a Search Strategy | Glossary of
Terms | ALA Code of Ethics
Effective Search Strategies
Developing a search strategy will help you to systematically find
the information you need. The strategy will vary, but will grow out
of your particular information need. Searching is a cyclical
process; at each step, re-evaluate what your information need is in
light of what you have found.
A basic search strategy for a term paper or speech is to:
1. find background information on your topic, to help you focus your
thinking and to provide factual data;
2. find in-depth information which analyzes and synthesizes the
data, leading to a broad understanding of the issues;
3. find current information, which will add new facts and /or ideas
to what you have already found; and
4. Repeat steps as needed to be sure you have all the information
you need for your paper.
Other specific information needs may require a different
search strategy. Be flexible and modify strategies to fit your
needs.
