Sample search strategies

R-15

With the help of a reference librarian, each of the following students constructed a search strategy appropriate for his or her research question.

Sophie Harba’s topic, the role of government in legislating food choices, is the subject of lively debates in scholarly articles and in publications aimed at the general public. To find information on her topic, Harba decided to

Luisa Mirano’s topic, the limitations of medications for childhood obesity, is the subject of psychological studies as well as articles in newspapers and magazines aimed at the general public. Thinking that both scholarly and popular works would be appropriate, Mirano decided to

Ned Bishop’s topic, Nathan Bedford Forrest’s role in the Fort Pillow massacre, has been investigated and debated by professional historians. Given the nature of his historical topic, Ned Bishop decided to

USING SOURCES RESPONSIBLY: Use your research log to record every source you read or view, especially noting page numbers, URLs, or electronic pathways such as DOIs (digital object identifiers). If you gather complete publication information from the start of your project, you’ll easily find it when you need to document your sources.

Tips for smart searching

Related topics:

Working bibliography

Highlights of one student’s research process