Search Strategy

General Search Strategy

Activity for Searching for Information

Choose the best terms for your topic.

Activity for finding the search terms to use from TILT

Info Search: Where's the Information?

Choose the Best search engine for your information need

Web Search Strategies

General Search Strategy

• Use a Search Strategy to Find Information
  • Definition of Search Strategy
    • Search - to find or locate something.
    • Strategy - to have a plan
    • Search Strategy - to have a plan to find information

• Step # 1

  • What are you looking for?
  • What is your information need?

   

• Step # 2

  • What kind of information do I need?
    • Background Information
    • Specific facts
    • Current Information
  • Where do I find this kind of Information?
    • Background Information - Books, Encyclopedias,
    • Specific Facts - Dictionaries, almanacs, statistics
    • Current Information - Periodicals , some web sites

     

• Step # 3

  • What resource will help me find this information?

Information Needed:	Where to Find Information:	What Resource or Search Tool to Use:
Background Information	Books	On-line Catalog Specific Web sites
	Encyclopedias
Specific Facts	Almanacs	On-line catalog Specific Web sites
	Dictionaries
	Statistics
Current Information	Periodicals	On-line Databases Specific Web sites
	News

• Step # 4

  Select the search terms for your topic.

  • Example:What impact does advertising and media have on teen drinking?

    Broad Topic: -Drinking

  • Select terms related to topic. Example:

    Alcohol, alcoholism, substance abuse, addiction

  • Narrow your topic. Example:

    teens and alcohol, driving and drinking, advertisement and drinking ,violence and alcohol

  • Some Search terms for the example question :What impact does advertising and media have on teen drinking?

    drinking and teens and advertising and impact alcohol and youth and media