Research Search Record

Research Search Record: Steps Search Strategy Write a clear topic statement: Select the keywords Keyword A from your topic statement. Keyword B Usually 2 or 3 keywords give better results. Keyword C Based on the keywords Keyword A you identified above, Synonyms select synonyms, related terms, and alternative Keyword B forms of each of these Synonyms keywords Keyword C Synonyms Search Strategy 1: Keyword A or or Formulate a search Synonyms strategy using Boolean operators AND (‘AND’/’OR’) to Keyword B or or connect your keywords. Synonyms

Combine synonyms AND with OR. Combine Keyword C or or different ideas/concepts Synonyms with AND. Search Strategy 2: Keyword A or or Formulate a search Synonyms strategy using Boolean operators AND (‘AND’/’OR’) along Keyword B or or with your keywords. Synonyms

Combine synonyms AND with OR. Combine Keyword C or or different ideas/concepts Synonyms with AND. Select appropriate search tools (i.e. library catalogue, an article research database, etc.) Search Take your search strategies from above and insert them in the database you selected. Review results and Not enough results? Revise your search terms and/or remove one of your keywords to revise search broaden your results.

Too many results? Use limits (scholarly journals, or by publishing year, etc.) and/or add another keyword to narrow your results. HINT: Once you have found an appropriate source (i.e. book, journal article, etc.) for your research topic, remember to search its bibliography and locate those references at the library. Their sources may make excellent sources for you and save you time. Steps Search Strategy Write a clear topic Discuss the prevalence and use of marijuana by teenagers in Arizona. statement: Select the keywords Keyword A marijuana from your topic statement. Keyword B teenagers Usually 2 or 3 keywords give better results. Keyword C Arizona Based on the keywords Keyword A teens, adolescents, adolescence, youth, young people you identified above, Synonyms select synonyms, related terms, and alternative Keyword B cannabis, pot, weed, reefer, dope, doobie, sticky icky, … forms of each of these Synonyms keywords Keyword C Arizona, Arizonans, Phoenix, Tuscon, Flagstaff, Yuma, … Synonyms Search Strategy 1: Keyword A teens or teenagers or adolescents Formulate a search Synonyms strategy using Boolean operators AND (‘AND’/’OR’) to Keyword B marijuana or cannabis or pot connect your keywords. Synonyms Combine synonyms AND with OR. Combine different ideas/concepts Keyword C Arizona or Arizonans or Phoenix with AND. Synonyms Search Strategy 2: Keyword A adolescents or young people or youth Formulate a search Synonyms strategy using Boolean operators AND (‘AND’/’OR’) along Keyword B marijuana or pot or weed with your keywords. Synonyms

Combine synonyms AND with OR. Combine Keyword C Phoenix or Arizona or Tucson different ideas/concepts Synonyms with AND. Select appropriate ASU library catalogue article database, Academic Search Premier search tools (i.e. library article database, Lexis-Nexis Google? catalogue, an article research database, etc.) Search Take your search strategies from above and insert them in the database you selected. Review results and Not enough results? Revise your search terms and/or remove one of your keywords to revise search broaden your results.

Too many results? Use limits (scholarly journals, or by publishing year, etc.) and/or add another keyword to narrow your results. This is what search strategy #1 will look like in an article database, such as Academic Search Premier: