No single search strategy works for every topic. For some topics, it may be appropriate to search for information in newspapers, magazines, and Web sites. For others, the best sources might be found in scholarly journals and books and specialized reference works. Still other topics might be enhanced by field research—interviews, surveys, or direct observation. With the help of a reference librarian, each of the students constructed a search strategy appropriate for his or her research question.
Anna Orlov’s topic, the dangers of Internet surveillance in the workplace, was so current that books were an unlikely source. To find up-to-date information on her topic, Orlov decided on these strategies:
search a general database for articles in magazines, newspapers, and journals
use Web search engines, such as Google, to locate relevant sites, online articles, and government publications
Luisa Mirano’s topic, the limitations of medications for childhood obesity, has recently become the subject of psychological studies as well as articles in the popular press (newspapers and magazines aimed at the general public). Thinking that both popular and scholarly works would be appropriate, Mirano decided on these strategies:
locate books through the library’s online catalog
check a specialized encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Psychology
search a general database for popular articles
search a specialized database, PsycINFO, for scholarly articles
Ned Bishop’s topic, the role played by Nathan Bedford Forrest in the Fort Pillow massacre, is an issue that has been investigated and debated by professional historians. Given the nature of his historical topic, Ned Bishop decided on these strategies:
locate books through the library’s online catalog
locate scholarly articles by searching a specialized database, America: History and Life
locate newspaper articles from 1864 by using a print index
search the Web for other historical primary sources
Related topic:
Highlights of one student’s research process