Before you start searching for information (whether via Google or Library databases), you should clarify "what do I really need to find?" or "what will satisfy my need for information?". Ask yourself these questions:
If you are not sure about any of the above requirements, talk to your instructor.
Once you have a clear picture of what you need, you can then examine your assignment topic, break it down into small components (concepts and keywords) to make your search more efficient.
Read your research assignment or question carefully.
Analyze your research topic, for example, think of what are the different issues of artificial intelligence, which aspects do you want to focus (discuss)?
This video shows you how mind mapping helps you turn a broad topic into a good research question.
Useful tips on searching databases effectively to find more precise and relevant results.
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Don't type in the whole sentence to search, pick the most important keywords. |
Think of and use alternative terms and keywords to improve your search. |
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Phrase searching can help you refine a search and find more precise results. |
Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to connect keywords to search effectively. |
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Use truncation symbols to find words with a common root or stem. |
Use parentheses to combine multiple keywords (prioritize orders of searching). |
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Use wild card to find the word variants |
