Key Takeaways

We’ve come to the end of this module. Below are the key points that we hope you will take away from the topics covered:

• Your research question can be qualitative or quantitative.
• A formula like PICO(T) can assist you in creating your question and identifying your key search terms.
• Your search terms can include related words and the controlled vocabulary of the subject database.
• Using Boolean operators will help you put your search terms together in a coherent search strategy.
• Subject databases have limiters that will help you filter your search results.
• Use search techniques like citation searching to make sure you have found relevant sources.
• If you have a working search strategy, have searched all your identified resources and used citation searching techniques, you can stop searching and start analyzing.
• You need to document your search process.
•  In some cases, more in-depth assistance is required and you can book a research consultation with your subject librarian to review your initial search.