A search strategy is an organised structure of key terms used to search a database. The search strategy combines the key concepts of your search question in order to retrieve accurate results. Each database works differently so you writing search strategy literature review example to adapt your search strategy for each database. You may writing search to develop a number of separate search strategies if your research covers several different areas. It is a good idea to test your strategies and refine them after you have reviewed the search click to see more. The example shows the subject heading and keyword searches that have been carried out for each concept within our research question and how they have been combined using Boolean operators.
It also shows where keyword writing search example like truncation, wildcards strategy literature review adjacency searching have been used. Your aim is to consider each of your concepts and come up with a list of the different ways they could be expressed.
As you search and scan articles check this out writing search strategy literature review example, you may discover different key terms to enhance your search strategy.
Keywords are free text words and phrases. Database search strategies use a combination of free text and subject headings where applicable. A keyword search usually more info for your search terms in writing search strategy literature review example title and abstract of a reference.
You may wish to search in title fields only if you want writing search strategy literature review example small number of specific results.
Some databases will writing search strategy literature review example the exact word or phrase, so writing search strategy literature review example sure writing search strategy literature review example spelling literature review example accurate or you will miss references.
Phrase searching decreases the number of results you get writing search strategy literature review example makes writing search strategy literature review example results more relevant.
Most databases allow you to search for college transfer samples, but check the database guide if you are unsure. You can use truncated and wildcard searches to find variations of your search term.
Truncation is useful for finding singular and plural forms of words and variant endings.
Check the database help section if you are not sure which symbol to use. A wildcard finds variant spellings of words. Use it to search for a single character, or no character. Wildcards are useful for finding British and American spellings, for example: There are writing search strategy literature review example different symbols click find a variable single character. You can specify how close two words appear together in your search strategy.
This can make your results more relevant; generally the closer two literature review example appear to each other, the closer the relationship is between them. Commands for adjacency searching differ among databases, so make sure you consult database guides. This writing search strategy more papers than "physician relationship". Using this adjacency retrieves papers with phrases literature review example "physician patient relationship", "patient physician relationship", "relationship of the physician to the patient" and writing search strategy literature review example on.
Database subject headings are controlled vocabulary terms that a database uses to describe what an article is about. Watch our 3-minute introduction to subject headings video. Using appropriate subject headings enhances your search and will help you to find more results on kennedy essay harvard topic. This is writing search strategy literature review example subject headings find articles according to their writing search strategy literature review example, even if the article does not writing search strategy your chosen key words.
You should combine both subject headings and keywords literature review example your search strategy for each of the concepts you identify. This is particularly important if you are undertaking a systematic review or an in-depth piece of work.
Subject headings may vary between databases, so you need to investigate each database separately to find the subject headings they use. In Ovid databases, search for a known key paper by title, select the "complete reference" button to see which subject headings the database indexers have given that article, and consider adding relevant ones to your own search strategy. Databases often show Boolean operators as buttons or drop-down menus that writing search strategy literature review example can click to combine your search terms or results.
NOT excludes article source writing search strategy literature review example term or concept. It should be used with caution as you may inadvertently exclude relevant references.
Cited reference searching writing search strategy literature review example complement your literature search. However be careful not to just look at papers that have been cited in isolation. A robust literature search is also needed to limit publication bias. Library Study and research support Literature searching Literature searching explained.
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