Step 1: Summarise Your Topic		Step 4: Link Keywords & Phrases
Step 2: Keywords and Phrases		Step 5: Locate the Information
Step 3: Identify Synonyms, etc.		SKILL Search Strategy Planner

When you need to find information, you should take time to plan your search and develop a strategy. The SKILL Planning Strategy, outlined below will assist you to do this.

Follow the SKILL Planning Strategy to plan your search:

Step 1 - Summarise your topic in one or two sentences;
Step 2 - Keywords and phrases need to be highlighted;
Step 3 - Identify synonyms, alternate terms, phrases and variant spelling;
Step 4 - Link your keywords and phrases;
Step 5 - Locate your information.

STEP 1 - Summarise Your Topic

What specific information do you need?

Think about what specific information you need. It is helpful, at this stage to summarise your research topic in one or two sentences. For example, instead of saying you want to do an assignment or paper on “genetics” or “the gold rushes” or “eating disorders”, which are very broad topics, you could state your specific information need as:

• 'I am interested in the scientific and ethical issues of reproduction research, specifically those related to human cloning'

or

• 'I want to investigate the effect of the gold rushes on agriculture during the 1850s and 1860s.'

or

• 'I want to find information about urban planning for sustainable environments.'

Questions to assist you with your summary:

Answers to the following questions will assist you to formulate your research summary:

• What is the main idea of my research topic?
• What specific ideas am I trying to describe or prove?
• What coverageam I interested in: international or a specific geographical region?
• What types of information am I interested in, eg. statistics, patents, journal articles or conference proceedings?
• What is the currencyof the information I require: the last 5 years or further back to the last 20 years or more.

When you have summarised your research topic, record it on the SKILL Search Strategy Planner included at the end of this UseIt.

For example:

SKILL SEARCH STRATEGY PLANNER

STEP 1 - Summarise your topic below

I want to find information about urban planning and sustainable environments.


Fig. 1: Example of Step 1: SKILL Search Strategy Planner

STEP 2 - Keywords and Phrases should be Highlighted

Identify and highlight the main keywords and phrases in your summary. This will break down your sentences into keywords and phrases (or ideas).

When you have identified your keywords and phrases, record them on your SKILL Search Strategy Planner.

For example:

I want to find information on urban planning and sustainable environments.

STEP 2 - Record The keywords and phrases
Phrase urban planning	Keyword sustainable	Keyword environments


Fig. 2: Example of Step 2: SKILL Search Strategy Planner

STEP 3: Identify Synonyms & Alternate Keywords

Create a list of synonyms, alternate keywords and other phrases (don’t forget words with variant spelling eg. paediatric or pediatric, encyclopaedia or encyclopedia) that describe the keywords and phrases you have highlighted.

TIP: The thesaurus or list of subject headings on the database you are using will assist you.  NOTE: Not all databases have a thesaurus.  You can find out information about the use of a thesaurus and if the database provides one, from the database HELP menu. Use wildcards(*, #, ?) to truncate keywords to retrieve plural and other variant forms. eg: communicat* will retrieve communicate, communicates, communicated, communicating and communication. Consult the database’s Online Help to find the correct wildcard to use.

These keywords and phrases will form the basic units of your search strategy. As you progress through the search process, your knowledge of the topic will increase and your list of keywords and phrases will grow and/or be refined. Record your results in your SKILL Search Strategy Planner.

For example:

STEP 3 - Record other synonyms & alternate keywords and phrases
Keywords from Step 2	urban planning	sustainable	environments	planning
OR	town	ecolog*	habitat*	architect*
OR	regional	energy	locale	build*
OR	city	viable	neighbourhood	design*


Fig. 3: Example of Step 3: SKILL Search Strategy Planner

NOTE: The wildcard used in the example above is the * asterisk. Some databases use " " inverted commas around words to indicate a phrase search.


STEP 4: Link Keywords & Phrases Using Connectors and Parentheses

Combine your keywords and phrases into a search strategy

Use the Connectors, OR, AND, NOT and Parentheses ( ) to combine your keywords and phrases into sets and then your sets into a strategy. If you find you have too many keywords, use the additional ones to modify your search strategy after your initial search.

NOTE: Connectors are sometimes referred to as Operators or Boolean Operators or Boolean Connectors

Follow the steps below:



1. Create sets by combining your synonyms with the OR connector


2. Enclose each set of synonyms with parentheses ( )


3. Combine the sets with either the AND or the NOT connector



NOTE: Some databases allow phrases to be enclosed with " " inverted commas (see the individual database HELP function for more information). Don't forget the * wildcards.

Record your results on your SKILL Search Strategy Planner.

For example:

STEP 4: Use the Connectors to combine your keywords and phrases. Create sets by combining your synonyms with the OR connector Enclose each set with parentheses Check the results for each set and tehn combine the sets with the AND connector. Use the NOT connector sparingly! See the Searching Tips & tricks UseIt for more information.

Set 1 ("urban planning" ORtown OR regional OR city ) Set 2 (sustainable OR ecolog* OR energy OR viable) Set 3 (environments OR habitat* OR locale OR neighbourhood) Set 4 (planning OR architect* OR build* OR design) Set 5 Example: Set 1 AND Set 3 Example: Set 1 AND Set 2 Continue with combining sets until you are sure you have covered all keywords and phrases.


Fig. 4: Example of Step 4: SKILL Search Strategy Planner

STEP 5: Locate the Information by Conducting the Search

How do you enter your search strategy into the database to get the best results?

Using the SKILL Search Strategy Planner, you may find that you generate a number of sets of keywords and phrases (similar to Fig 4  above). If this is the case, you may be able to use a building block approach (similar to Fig 4 above) to enter your search strategy into your selected database.

TIP: Need more information about the connectors or using parentheses or taking your searching skills further? Read the UseIt, Searching Tips and Tricks – Quick Guide: How to UseIt available on the UQ Library web site.


SKILL Search Strategy Planner

SKILL SEARCH STRATEGY PLANNER
STEP 1: Summarise your topic below
STEP 2: Key words and phrases need to be highlighted
Key Word/Phrase 1	Key Word/Phrase 2	Key Word/Phrase 3
STEP 3: Identify other phrases, synonyms and variant words
OR	OR	OR
OR	OR	OR
OR	OR	OR
STEP 4: Combine your keywords and phrases Broaden the search by combining terms using OR Combine keywords with AND to narrow the search Further narrow the search, if necessary, by joining the terms with the NOT or AND NOT connector. Use the NOT connector sparingly! See the Searching Tips & Tricks UseIt for more information. NOTE: Some databases allow phrases to be enclosed with " " inverted commas (see the individual database HELP function for more information).  Don't  forget the * wildcards.
Keyword/Phrase	Connectors - AND/OR/NOT	Keyword/Phrase
STEP 5: Locate the information Build your search step by setp by entering your sets one at a time into the database's text box. Review the results after each step allowing them to guide your progress.

Ask at the Information Desk in any Branch Library

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