MODULE 3: EFFECTIVE SEARCH STRATEGIES, TECHINQUES AND STUDY SKILLS INTRODUCTION Information has emerged as the most crucial resource in our daily existence, Increasingly, peo ple are hurrying ta the laternet te find information, They assume that they need no training to ch the Internet ith the belief that technology does all the work, However, in an era, char sear octerized by information ow rload, aru! technological aduaricements, acquiring the skills to effi iently search for infor mation and effectively utilize it is essential In fact, a little time spent fo rmulating a search strategy will save both users time and provide them with greatly improved results, DEFINITION OF SEARCH STRATEGY A senrch strategy in information literacy is a planned an syste matic appronch te finding infor mation, involving defining your research topic and identifying key concepts, brainstorming key uords reloted to those concepts including selecting appropriate search terms (syforrys, roa ver ond narrower terms), and choosing relevant databases or search tools, planning haw te co bine search terms(e.q,, using Boolean operators), and documenting your search process and results, t's a crucial skill for effective research, Search strategies ensure comprehensive and efficient search, thereby moximizing the chance s of finding the most relevant and accurate int forrnation, IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE SEARCH STARTEGY The importance of a strong search strategy is detailed as follows: | SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH: © Literature Reviews: Effective search strategies are essential for conducting thorough literature reviews, est ring that you haw arress to all relevart research an your topic © Research Papers: A.well-fefined search strategy is crucial for gat hering evidence arw building a strong foun dation for research papers and publications. @, FOCUS AND EFFICIENC’ © Targeted Information: Awellatefined search strategy helps narrow down the search, focusing on relevant inform ation and avoiding irrelevant results. This saves time and effort by eliminating the need t o sift through vast amounts of irrelewant dato, + Time Management: By planning your search in advance, you can allocate a realistic amount of time for the re seal “d i ch process and stay organized, preventing information overload© Reduced Frustratio A good sear king it easier to fir the information you need. 5. QUALITY AND RELIABILITY: * Credible Sources: A strong sear ournals, ensuring the information i 1 strategy minimizes feustration by streamlining the search process and ma strategy helps identify and utilize reputable sources like peer-reviewed j rate and trustworthy. © Comprehensive Understanding 2y utilizing various search techniques and databases, you ean ensure a well-rounded und erstanding of your research topic, considering diverse perspectives and findings © Reproducibility: Explicit reporting of your search strate gy in research papers allows uthers to replicate yo ur search, validating your fi 4, ACCURACY AND PRECISION: + Accurate Results: ings and building upon your work, An effective search strategy ensures that your search terms are properly combined, max imizing the retrieval of relevant records and minimizing irreleant results, + Specific Infarmation: 1 tec formation you need 2y using various sear pinpoint the specifi © Reduced ins: Acompretensive search strategy helps avid bins by ensuring that all relevant studies ar e identified, rather than focusing ona limited selection, niques like ke ywords, phrases, and subject headings, you car NOTE: Dew loping o strony search strategy is crucial for anyone conducting research, ensurin efficient, accurate, and reliable information retrieval. tt allows you to focus your efforts, ident tify quolity sources, and build a solid foundation for your research ar academic wrk, SEARCH TECHINQUES Search techniques are specific methods and tools used to refine aru improve search result st s purpose is te narrow down search results, increase accuracy, ond find specific information ef ficiently. So, one can think ofa search strategy as the plan af a search process and search tec hnique sas the tools used in carrying out that search, DIFFERENT SEARCH TECHNIQUES Different techniques for databases, cataloque, and Internet searches include: © Keyword Searching © Subject Searching “| i.a “] © Phrase Searching © Trun ion ond Wikicard Searching © Boolean Operators (A). KEYWORD SEARCHING Keyword search is the process of matching words or phrases that connect a topie toa result Search can be broad and iaclude individual words oF a phrase. This is also known as search que vies. Keywonis are the urords ar phrases that people type into search engines to find what th eye looking for, EXAMPLES OF KEYWORD SEARCHING ff you were seare ito Google ‘you're looking for informat v,""damestic cat,” or "kitten" (8). SUBIECT SEARCHING Asubject si = the subject field, Most academ are ore unique tu that database. bulary’ tondardized, pre-fefined terms used to describe ¢ ire These Terms, Des gis precise ond uses higher order language and hin ado KEYWORD VS SUBIECT SEARCHING Keywords Notural (conersationa!) language Searches for your search terms (keywords) in the database record including title, abstract, full-text of an article ete. Results may or may not be relevant te your top Broadens your search providing more results Flexible - searches newer or distinctive terms itrolled vocabulary jnwlexes iptors, Thesaurus, or lufex terms, Subjec iewtifin base will result ia fewer, more relevant search results fing to buya neur jacket, you might type something like *mrien’s leather jacke about cats, you could use keywords like "felin is more specific than a keyword searcte it looks in only one fie Mf of each recor libraries use Litrary of Congress Sul SH] for Subject Search of their online catalogues. Many databases use su ubject searching inabe s using specific vecabulary, often refer within a database. Th y of terms across the database. Mast databases contain a controlled vo ject Headings (LC ct headings thot ont rolled we abulary allows for consis lary index of s s based on th pt aru categarize arti ai also be referred to.as Subjec hi sea terminology. Si Subjects Frestefined, higher ond er terminology Only searches the subject or descriptor field ina database record Results usually relevant to your topic Narrows your search providing fewer results Less Flexible — searches only aunilable, pre-defined -“d anda cranyms with redefined subject heading Examples: Dogs Skin Concer High Blood Pressure Sleeplessness subj ct headings Examples: Canines Skin Neoplasms Hypertension fnsomina + To retrieve the best search results when searching library databases, use a combinatio 1 of both keywords and subject terms. (C). PHRASE SEARCHING Phrase searching is a search technique that retrieves results where a speci rds appears together asa phrase, nat just as individual words, This is typically done by enclosi fay the phrase in quotation marks, which tells the search engine tofind that exact combination cf words, ie sequence oF wo Lintelligence" (with quotes) uill return results wher Example: If you are searching for “ortific e those two words appear together, unlike searching for just artificial intelligence (without quo tes), which would return results conta both words, but not necessarily together, (D} USING TRUNCATED AND WILDCARD SEARCHES > TRUNCATION Truncation, alsa known as stemuning, isa search technique used in databases and search engi es to broaden search results by including various word endings anu spellings. It involves shirt ening a search term to its root and axiving 0 truneation symbol, usually ani asterisk (*), to retri ewe all variations of the word, Example: If you search for information using the rout Psych, it might return the following res ult: Psychology, Psychological, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Psychiatry. This means that the dat base will then search for all uariations of "psych" with different erafings. Using tru help you complete your search faster because you will not have to marwally type in anu! seare every worintion of the word, tion will = WIDECARD SYMBOLS: wil ny is 0 technique used in search queries to bronden results by using special © horacters (wildcards) to represent unknown characters or patterns within a search term. This card seare allows users to find varia tions of a word or terms with missing characters, improving search fle xibility. Common wildcards include the asterisk (*) and the question mark (2), but different d atubases and search engines may use uthers -L Examples: Asterisk (*) Typically represents zera or more urn results like “calor”, "colored", Question Mark ( Usually represents a single character. For example, searching for "worn?n" might return “women and “women”, aracters. For example, searching for "calor*” might ret coloring”, and “colour” Wilteard searches are helpful when you + Dow't know the exact spelling of a word, (e.g. Stationery/stationary: The tw words oF e easily confused, especially because of their similar pronunciation; Accommodate: The The "tious" ening ond double "e" an double "m'" cant be ensily missed; Conscientious: the nt "s" make ita challenge. © Want to find variations ofa word (e.4., plurals, past tense). (e.g., man/men, uiernae/ Ws oinen, child /ehild ren, mouse/miee, foot/Feet, yoose/qeese); (wmlk/ualked, play/playe d) © Are searching for terms with missing of unknown characters. (e.g. “hoe (5), p*int (a), b*ig hit (el. © Want to find terms that start, end, or contain a spe: = equence of chamcters, Example Starting with a sequence: apple: matches strings like "apple pie", "apple juic ", but not "a green apple”, Ending with » sequence! oranges: Matches "a juiey orange", but not "orange jul Caniti World. #2 Mat e world is round (E). BOOLEAN SEARCHING What is Boolean Searching? ¥ Boolean searching is based on a methad of logic developed by George Boole, a 19° C Engli sh Motheimntician The power of Boolean searching is based on combination of keywords with connecting ter ms called “Operators” Allows you to bronden your search Allows you to riarrow your search VY Most online databases and Internet search engines support Boolean searches Allows you to doeffective searches by cutting out many unrelated documents “] cing 0 sequence’ esany string that contains "World", like "Hello World”, "World War SSNSL BASIC BOOLEAN LOGICAL OPERATORS v AND v oR v MOT You can use keyunrds in a variety of ways te refine your search. Aand 8 stand for keywords or phrases, The words "AND", "OR", and “NUT are called “logical operators” “ANDY © Using AND narrows your sea! © It retrieves documents that contain BOTH search terms OR keywords that you specify © The more terms you connect with AND, the fewer search results you will Find EXAWLPLE USING *AND*: © Globalization and Human Rights © Powrty an Crime 0 Decuments are retrieved containing buth search terms “oR” © Using OR" broadens your search ©. It retrieves doruments that contain either of the search terms oF keyuurds that you speci fy but not necessarily both ©The more terms you con gives you more!) © _Use it to search for similar terms EXAMPLE USING *OR*: © Globalization or Huron Rights © College o University © Documents are retrieved containing either s “vor © Using NOT narrows your search It retrieves dacuments that do not containa search term from your seareh co Use NOT toexelude a term From your seareha nd to Find fewer results with OR, the more search results you will find (Remember 0 ch term EXAMPLES USING “NOT; © Globalization not Human Rights © Cats NUT Dogs © Documents are retrieved containing only information on cats, and nothing on vlogs Using diagrammatic expressions, the terms “Globalization” anu Human Rights" are used for further illustrations:Using the Sooleart Operator AND* will narrow your search results, In this ease, using AND wr ill retrieve seareh results containing both keyunrds Globalization and Human Rights. Using the Boolean Operator “OR” will broaden your search results. In this case, using OR urill r etrieve search results containing either the keywords Globalization or Human Rights. a luman ” © ete and tere rom enema cme Colts Using the Boolean Operator “NOT will narrow your search results. ln this ease, using NOT wil retrieve search results containing the keyword Glabalization but uill not retrieve search resi Its containing the keywiord Human Rights. ADVANCED BOOLEAN SEARCH TECHINQUES “d i“QUOTATION MARKS" © Using quotation marks narrows your seat © ft requires words to be searched as a phrase in the exact order that you type them with t he quotattian riark © Used for searching multiple-word terms, places, or a person's name you specify EXAMPLES © "Global warming” 0 “Mew York City” © “Donald Tramp" NOTE: Using “Quotation Marks" will give you different search results than when yauuse the AND operator hetueen each word without quotes PARENTHESES © (Jallows you tocambine any of the Boolean operators together © Use NOTand Oto limit your search © Use MOTand AMD together to expand your search © Using () allows yeu to combine tur possible s EXAMPLE USING () “Alternative Energy” NUT (Wiad OR Solar) © Using this search string would allow you to find decuments about alternative energy, but aot solar or wind methods-it would only give you other methods ches into one, andit saves your time HOW DO! KNOW WHICH BOOLEAN OPERATORS TO USE? v AND vy oon vy MoT yoee ¥ () SAMPLE QUESTION #1 “lwant to find information about Cloning Humans” To find information ov this topic, you can try different search strings. Here are tuo poceibiltie Cloning AND Humans human cloning” SAMPLE QUESTION #2 “lwant to find information about either Brad Flitt or his wife, Angelina Jolie™ Suggested search: “Brad Pitt” OR "Angelina Jolie™ SAMPLE QUESTION #3 “]_ L “I want to find information about Mummies, but not Mummies in Eaypt™ Suggested searcle Mummies MOT Egypt SAMPLE QUESTION #4 “lwant to find information about Behavieurs in Cats™ Consider: Is there more than one search term we could use tu search for eat -related infrmati on? Possible search; Behaviour AND SAMPLE QUESTION #5 “lwant to find information on designing websites, but aot on specific web design software prog ram” Consider: Whic! Possible searches: “website de siya” NUT (Dreammeaver UR Front Page) Website design MOT software When senrehing litrary databases, you hove the option to use both keywords and subject term 8 (2). CITATION SEARCHING Citation searching ise method used tofind articles that have been cited by other publications Use citation searching (or cited reference searching) to + find out whether articles have been cited by other authors + find more recent papers on the same or similar subject wer how a known idea or innevation has been confirmed, applied, improved, extend ed, or corrected + help make your literature reviews more comprehensive You ean use cited reference searching in! © Ould SP! databases © Google Seholar «© Web of Science © Scopus Cited reference searching can complement your literature search, However, be careful rat to just look at papers thnt howe beer: cited in isolation, A robust literature search is alsa needed t limit publication bias, OR felines) softumre program helps you create websites? edi (fF). FILTERS filters are tools ar features that allow users to narrow down sea ttributes or criteria, They help in refining a search by selecting parameters like price © ange, brand, color, size, or other relevant attributes. They act like a sieve, helping to sift throu aha large amount of information and focus on what's most pertinent, Filters Sear results based on sp 1 be used on ort line platforms, websites, or search engines. to customize results, For example, if you are lookin for shoes and apply the filter "Zara," you uill see only results related te Zara shoes, For dat “d rTL bases like EBSCOhost, EBSCOhost search filters are primarily based on publization type, de cument type, subject, publisher, publication, language, and geography. Additionally, filters ear be applied based on factors like peer review status, full text amilability, ard publication date. Examples of search filters in E8SCOHost database are based on: + Full text: Limit results to items with full text available online + Peer reviewed: Filter for peer-reviewed articles + Tire (perio) — past 2 months, past Syears, past Il! years, cus + Source type — This aspect eaptures publieation types (e.g., journals, books, magazines, reviews, ebooks, news) and dacument types (e.g., articles, reports) © Language: Language of the publization © Publisher: Filter by the publisher of the source material © Publication: Limit results to specif © Geography: Filter by the geograp + Publication date: Filter results bya sp Benefits of Using Search Filters: publications Jorea associated with the publication ifie date range or period + Improved Efficiency: Filters save time by quickly narrowing down search results + Enhanced Relevance: They ensure that the displayed results are more relemat te the u ser's specific needs «Simplified Novigation: Filters enable the exploration of large datase ts wr product ys by organizing them into more manageable categories, catal Search filters are common on websites, e- nunierce platforms, search engines, and in speci alized databases. In short, search filters are a valuable tool for navigating the vast amount of j formation available online and finding exactly urhat you're Looking for. B. STUDY SKILLS: Study skills are the techniques and strategies that help individuals learn aru retain informati on effectively, They encompass a range of abilities, including time manageme at, nate-taking, ive reading, and test-taking and inary more strategies. Essentially, study skills are the too Is students use to cueceed in their aeademir pursuits, WHY ARE STUDY SKILLSIMPORTANT? Study skills help students to > Learn more efficiently > Retain information longer > Reduce stress and anxiety > Perfarm better in tests, exams, and assignments > Develop a proactive learning 1 Key Study Skills to Master Time Manageme nt Good time management allows students te plan their study sessions and balance hemewe “] rT| “] rk, extracurricular activities, ar personal time, Key strategies include: Y Using a Planner. Write down allo J Setting Priorities. Focus on the most important tasks first ar break large proj o smaller steps J Creating a Study Schedule, Dedicate specific time slats for studying each day and stie to the routine > Active Reading Active reading ig more than just going through the material, f’s about engaging with the t ext to improw comprehension. Some active reading techniques include J Highlighting Key Points. Focus on important facts or concepts while reading ¥ Summarizing. Write short summaries in your oum words to reinforce understanding ¥ Asking Questions. Pose questions as you read tustay engaged ond critically think abou tthe material. « Note-Taking Effective notetaking helps students retain information and is an essential study tool, Som © popular methods are: ¥ The Carnell Method, Divide the page into sections for nutes, key points, anu sumumatie s ¥ Ming Mapping, Visual diagrams represent ideas an concepts, which are perfect for vi sual learners, sigaments, tests, aru dendlines to stay organized. cts int Y Bullet Points and Lists. Simple and quick, making it easier to review key concepts 4. Test Preparation Fire paring for exams requires a strategie J Practice Tests. Simulate test conditions to familiarize yourself with the format ard ty pes of questions J Reviewing Notes Regularly. Instead of cramming, gover notes eonsiste ntl. J Study Groups. Collaborating with peers can help clarify confusing topies aru make stu dying more interactive . Memory Techniques Memory plays a crucial role in retaining information, Try techniques such as ¥ Moemonics. Create acronyms or phrases to remember lists or proce sses, ¥ Chunking, Sreak down information intasmaller, manageable pieces ¥ Visualization, Create mental imnges of concepts te aid memory. i HOW TO BUILD SETTER STUDY SKILLS a Set Clear Goals Clear goal cial for students ta stay focused and motivated. By defining specific ob jectivs, students have a clear direction to quide their efforts. Whether the aim is to impr ove grades or gain mastery of a new subject, setting goals using the SMART Frameurark— Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—ensures they are realistic a id attainable 4. Creating a Productive Study Environment Creating a productive study enwironment is another key factor in building good study habi pproach te studying, Some tips include: are cl L_ L ts, Aquiet, organized space, free From distractions like phones or social media, allows for better concentration aad focus. Having all necessary materials within reach, ensuring pro per lighting, and comfortable seating all contribute toa more effective study session «Practice Active Learning Practicing active learning encourages deeper engagement with the material, Instead of assively absorbing information, students can boost their understanding by explaining cone epts toothers, r fag their knowledge. Self-quizzing is another active learning t que that helps students evaluate their retention of information. Additionally, using fla she ards for quick reviews allows for frequent, Focused repetition, strengthening memory and recall ii Overcome Common Study Challenges a. Procrastination Procrastination is a common ori halle nge for many students, often leaving to delayed tasks ond last-minute stress. To combat procrastination, students shauld break tasks inte small er, more manageable steps, By setting short, achievable deadlines, they can maintain ste ady progress and stay on track, Aduitionally, rewarding themselues after c step can provide positive reinfo > Lack of Motivation Another challenge is 0 lack of motivation, especially during lengthy or repetitive stuly ses sions, Students should take regular breaks te prevent burnout and maintain enthusiasm, allowing their minds to recharge, Mixing study techniques—sueh as switching between re aging, writing, ond discussing moterial—can keep things fresh and engaging. Students m ust remember their long-term goals, recognizing that their current efforts contribute ta t hose achievements c. Test Anxiety Test anxiety can hinder performance, but students can alleviate this stress thraugh prope r preparation. A well-organized study plan ensures that they feel confident aru ready. Inc orporating relaxation technique’, like deep breathing exercises, helps manage anxiety in the moment, Finally, visualizing success and maintaining a positive mindset can empower students to appronch exams with greater confidence ard ease, Evaluating Information jor part of the researe h/study process includes evaluating the sources of information you ate in your searches, In other words, this step includes searching for relevant information: so cad deciding whether to keep and include those sou hordiscard the min favour of newer, more reliable, higher quality sources. In fact, the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) has determined this to be a crucial stage in developing informati cn lite mey skills in their Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education: “Learaers uhoare developing their information literate abilities critically evxluate contributions made b ‘yothors in participatory information environments.” “d rT 2 for your resenL a. Evaluating Criteria While other schools, universities, and libraries may present slight variations or additions, gene rally it is agreed that the basic camponents of evaluation criterin include the folloxing: © Currency: What is the publication uote? Is the date relent for the subject area/topi ? Isit tonold? Could a more recently published source provide new and/ordifferent in formation? © Authority & Credentials — Who is the outhor or/or publisher? Is the author/ publisher reputable or haw on established reputation in the discipline aru/or field? Does the aut hor/publisher hove specific expertise or knowledge to publish on this topic + Accuracy § Reliability —Is the information or research accurate or valid? Can the sai e oF similar information be werified by other sources? «Audience — Whois the intended audience for the information? fs it written for a genera readership, such as an article ina newspaper er magazine (popular sources)? I it writ tenfor people who work ina specific industry (trade publications]? Is it written for a se holarly/academic audience (scholarly sources)? © Bias — Does the information express a specific point of view oF opinion? Is the informati on written by an organization that supports a stated agenda? Is it based on factual evie enice from research or experiment? Does the point of view affect the accuracy or reliats ility of the information? > Determining Bins, Fact or Opinion Consider the follawing wher evaluating a souree for bias + Duvs the resource use selective facts or does it omit farts ur statisties? Factual umitin quill often rely heavily on statistical evident «Dues the resource use language thnt appeals only to emotion? Does the writing ir @ mony exclamation points oF all eaps? © Does the resource pramotea particular political, religious, oF social agenda from one p vint of view? fs the author or publication sponsored by an organization that promotes a specific ngeruin? Types of Information Resources ut Be sure tadetermine what types of infarmation resources are required for your research need , Review your assignment or research criteria; «Are you required to use original/primary research articles or is it acceptable to cite se condary articles that summarize or discuss research findings? + Doyourneed seholarly journal articles? Must these articles be from peer-reviewed jour nals? a © isi Ss? ptoble to use magazine or neuspaper arti 4. Eunluating Websites Emluating websites is, in many ways, very similar te evaluating tradition! sources of informa tion like books, journal articles, ete. However, becouse arryone can create a website, you will 1 eed to be more critical in your evaluation, Additionally, there are also special considerations, s uch os checking the website damain, “] TL The internet has mde it possible foramyone to publish web pages. Most websites have nat ur dergone a review process for ir ollection, whereas the resources in the library's su becription databases have, For these reasons, you should elosely evaluate any Internet resoure es you find to ensure they contain balanced information, Reliable internet resources may inchs de peer reviewed journal articles, qaerament reports, conference papers, industry and profes sional standards, ceieatifie papers, news reports, and quick facts aru Figures. However, keep in mind thot just because a website is well presented does rit mean that it eo tains accurate information, Here are some criteria you ean look for inlaternet resources to d ete rmine whether they are reliable sources of information, By adure ssing the questions belo uy you eandetermine iFan Internet resouree is a reliable souree of information. sion ina + Can you identify the author af an laternet resource? If se, what do you know about this author's education, work history, affiliations, additional publications, ete.? + Can you find the date the fnternet resource was last updated or published? © Does the Internet resource cite the work of others? + Does the content ofthe resource seem balariced and scholarly, oF is it biased? + Who published Internet resources? Was the web page published ky a business, universi ty, qoverament organization, or professional association? + What is the intended audio: level researe e? + What is the domain of the Internet resi ely to be a scholarly source. If it ends in uree for the lnternet resource? Is it appropriate For university 2 Uris it geared tounrd secondary education or a more general audiene 0? it ends in ory, .qov, oF eds it is more Tk orm or .net it is less likely to be a scholarly so CONCLUSION Effective search strategies are crucial for academic success anu can be directly linked te impr owed study skills, By mastering search techniques, students can efficiently gather relevant inf ormation, enhancing their understanding and ability te learn, This earnection is evident in hows search skills like Wentifying keywords, using Goolea logic, aru evaluating sources contribute t obetter aote-taking, research, and overall academic perfarmance.