Ancaster Library Search Strategies & Keywords Exercise
Steps
Search strategy
Write a clear topic
statement
GENERAL TERMS
What general terms
include this term?
Think about what a general book that included a chapter on your topic would be called.
Word or phrase
Synonyms (try a thesaurus or
tilde~ in a Google search)
KEYWORDS - CORE
From what you know
already about your
topic…list three core
keywords or phrases
Keyword A
Keyword B
Keyword C
KEYWORDS - CORE
Using a Directory, a book
index, Wikipedia or a
Google search list 3
more keywords or
phrases
Keyword D
A great Directory is called
dmoz
http://www.dmoz.org/
Keyword F
Keyword E
Qualifier 1
Qualifier 2
Exclude – these are
words related to your search
terms that will not be
helpful
QUALIFIERS – (ALSO
CALLED LIMITERS)
For any three keywords
above, think of two
qualifiers (Phrase or
words) that limit or
describe your core
keywords to better focus
your search
Other limiters
Filetype (ppt, pdf, doc)
Date (is current info
necessary?)
Searching intitle or inurl
Type of url (.gov .org
.edu)
Search strategy:
Keyword chosen
Keyword chosen
Keyword chosen
Now you are ready to develop a search string…Formulate a search strategy using your keywords and Boolean operators
-phrases should be in quotation marks (use common phrases where you want to search for words together)
A search string refers to a sequence of characters, words, or other elements that are connected to each other in some way. A search
string usually refers to a string of words or a phrase that is used to search and locate or retrieve a specific piece of information
contained in a database or a set of documents.
This column
forms your
fundamental
Search string
Synonyms & Qualifiers
Words to exclude
Core Keyword
OR*
OR
NOT
OR
OR
NOT
OR
OR
NOT
OR
OR
NOT
OR
OR
NOT
OR
OR
NOT
AND
Core Keyword
AND
Core Keyword
AND
Core Keyword
AND
Core Keyword
AND
Core Keyword
* the keyboard symbol for OR is the vertical bar (uppercase \ key); called the “pipe”
Other limiters
Use Google advanced for this
http://www.google.ca/advanced_search?hl=en
Search string tutorial
http://www.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/tutorial/using/electronic3.asp
Ancaster Library Search Strategies & Keywords Example
Steps
Search strategy
Write a clear topic
statement
Does the use of personal electronic devices and the
Internet cause people to lose the ability to focus?
GENERAL TERMS
What general terms
include this term?
Think about what a general book that included a chapter on your topic would be called.
Information Technology; Learning
Word or phrase
Synonyms (try a thesaurus or
tilde~ in a Google search)
KEYWORDS - CORE
From what you know
already about your
topic…list three core
keywords or phrases
KEYWORDS - CORE
Using a Directory, a book
index, Wikipedia or a
Google search list 3
more keywords or
phrases
A great Directory is called
dmoz
http://www.dmoz.org/
Keyword A
Internet
WWWeb; Computers
Keyword B
Personal electronic
devices
Cell phones; lap
tops;
Keyword C
Lack of focus
Concentration;
attention span;
Keyword D
Teenage Brain
Cognitive
Function;
Executive Function
Keyword E
Distraction
Interruption
Keyword F
Digital Technology
Information
technology
Exclude – these are
Qualifier 1
Qualifier 2
words related to your search
terms that will not be
helpful
QUALIFIERS – (ALSO
CALLED LIMITERS)
For any three keywords
above, think of two
qualifiers (Phrase or
words) that limit or
describe your core
keywords to better focus
your search
Keyword chosen
“Teenage
Brain”
Adolescent
Wired;
developing
Neuroplastici
ty
Anatomy
Multi-tasking
Time wasted;
computers; on
task
behaviour
Adult;
Business
Use of
Effects of on
Teenage
brains
History
Keyword chosen
Distractio
n
Keyword chosen
Digital
Technology
Other limiters
Filetype (ppt, pdf, doc)
Pdf’s because they are copied and stored documents and
articles
Date (is current info
necessary?)
Need really current materials as this topic is cutting
edge
Searching intitle or inurl
Not important for this topic as there will likely not
be whole websites and url’s devoted to it
Want good sites and may limit to .edu sites later if I
find that research comes mostly from universities
Type of url (.gov .org
.edu)
Search strategy:
Now you are ready to develop a search string…Formulate a search strategy using your keywords and Boolean operators
-phrases should be in quotation marks (use common phrases where you want to search for words together)
A search string refers to a sequence of characters, words, or other elements that are connected to each other in some way. A search
string usually refers to a string of words or a phrase that is used to search and locate or retrieve a specific piece of information
contained in a database or a set of documents.
This column
forms your
fundamental
Search string
Synonyms & Qualifiers
Words to exclude
Core Keyword
OR*
OR
NOT
Digital
Technology
AND
Core Keyword
Distraction
OR
attention
span
OR
Lack of
focus
NOT
Adult
OR
Developing
brain
OR
Neuroplastic
ity
NOT
Anatomy
Business
AND
Core Keyword
Teenage Brain
AND
Core Keyword
OR
OR
NOT
OR
OR
NOT
OR
OR
NOT
Multi-tasking
AND
Core Keyword
AND
Core Keyword
* the keyboard symbol for OR is the vertical bar (uppercase \ key); called the “pipe”
Other limiters
Pdf’s and click on “articles within the last year”
Use Google advanced for this
http://www.google.ca/advanced_search?hl=en
Search string tutorial
http://www.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/tutorial/using/electronic3.asp