Before searching indexes and catalogs, you should clarify the information you are seeking by developing a search strategy. This worksheet first presents a four-step process for creating such a strategy. The worksheet lastly presents tips for entering your search strategy in indexes or catalogs listed under Databases on the HSU Library homepage. Be as specific as possible. I want to investigate the seasonal patterns in the vertical distribution of phytoplankton.
Concepts are the different ideas which make up each unique search topic.
In the Your Search Topic section below, create a list of words or phrases which describes each of your numbered concepts identified in Step 2. These are useful for uniting under one standardized term a concept described by several synonymous words and phrases. After listing these additional words, examine each word to see if it can be beneficially truncated. To find the correct wild card symbol, consult the help section in the database you will be using. This list of keywords is dynamic.