This slideshow is part of a Decision-based Learning module for Information Literacy. The information is not intended to stand on its own.

1. SEARCHING:
STRATEGIES

2. Topic Anatomy
IDEA 1
IDEA 2 IDEA 3
• Each topic comprises an intersection of multiple ideas or knowledge domains
• Successive Fractions simply seeks to identify those ideas successively, using
search results to refine previous search steps
• Concept Blocking simply seeks to identify those ideas up front and use them in
a search

3. Successive Fractions Searching
MAJOR
TOPIC_
Sub-
Topic
Etc.
• This is an intuitive method of searching, where you search first for a
broad area, then use information from the results to continue refining
the topic until you get a manageable set of search results
• Use AND statements between successive search terms

4. EXAMPLE
UAVs
_
Control
• Search first for a broad area of interest: UAV OR unmanned aerial
vehicle OR drone (NOTE: Keywords or Subject Terms may be used)
• Consider topics represented in the results and choose a second area of
interest, repeat until search results are manageable
“Coordination”

5. “Concept Blocking”
CONCEPT 1
Synonyms
CONCEPT 2
Synonyms
CONCEPT 3
Synonyms
• This is a common method of searching, where you break down your topic into major
concepts and represent each concept with a search term
• Choose synonyms for concept search terms to capture alternative wording that
authors may use in their papers (e.g., drone, UAV, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)
• Use AND statements between successive search terms, OR statements between
synonyms
• Add a concept to narrow the topic, remove a concept to broaden

6. • Topic: Coordinated control of UAVs
• Search string: (((unmanned aerial vehicles) OR UAV OR drone) AND
(control OR automation) AND (coordination OR cooperation)
EXAMPLE
Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles
UAV
drone
Control
Automation
Coordination
Cooperation

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