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Developing an Effective Search Strategy

This guide provides guidance on developing effective search strategies that can be applied across different research needs as well as practical tips and resources to help users refine their search techniques.

Introduction

Where to search for information depends on the type of information you’re looking for and on any specific external guidelines or requirements. 

By Type of Information

  1. Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed Sources. 
    • Research Databases. Use research databases to find peer reviewed articles. From our A-Z list, select the database type Articles and Research Papers. For more information on research databases, see our Research Databases guide.
    • Library Search. Use library search or the library catalog to search for books. For more information, see our Finding and Using Books guide.
  2. Bleeding Edge Research Regardless of Peer Review. 
    • Research Databases. Select the database type Pre-prints and Proceedings.
    • Academic Social Networks. Explore ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and Mendeley where researchers share their latest work and engage with the academic community.
  3. Non-Scholarly Information and News.
    • Research Databases. 
      • Article and Research Paper databases usually contain articles from trade publications and other non-peer reviewed content. These can be found using filters within the database. See our guide on Research Databases for more information.
      • There are also specialized databases for non-scholarly sources. Review the Database Types dropdown on our A-Z list.
    • Professional and Scholarly Societies. These can be found using your favorite web search engine.
  4. Business and Corporate Information
    • Research Databases. Specialized business research databases can be found by selecting Business in the subject dropdown on our A-Z list.
    • Web Search Engines. Conduct searches for company websites, business news portals, and industry-specific news sites for the latest updates and corporate news.
  5. Data Sources
    • Specialized Databases. Select the database type Data and Datasets form our A-Z list.
    • Web Search. Explore official statistics and reports from government agencies such as the U.S. Census Bureau, World Bank, or Eurostat for authoritative data. 

Specific Requirements or External Guidance

Specific requirements are common in undergraduate research assignments. Read your assignment carefully to see if your professor requires you to use specific databases or information sources. For example, it’s common for assignments to specify that only peer reviewed sources should be used. If in doubt, ask you teacher what’s expected

External guidance is sometimes encountered in advanced research. For example, your thesis advisor may ask you to use specific sources. Likewise, some grant offerings may specify the use of certain sources. Read any documents carefully and reach out to your advisor or grant officer for clarification if you’re in doubt.