This document provides an overview of developing a search strategy for research. It discusses identifying keywords, selecting relevant information sources like databases and journals, evaluating search results, and managing references. Key aspects covered include developing search queries using Boolean operators, reviewing results, and evaluating information quality based on authority, accuracy, objectivity and date. Methods for accessing resources off-campus and managing references using RefWorks are also summarized. The goal is to guide students through the process of researching and referencing materials for their academic work.

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Library & Information Skills for CPS,
workshops 1 and 2
https://libguides.rhul.ac.uk/cps
Autumn 2018
Emma Burnett

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My essay question / research topic:
What do I want to find out?

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Developing a search strategy
1. Identify keywords that define your research
question
2. Select relevant information sources
3. Evaluate and modify your searches
4. Select and save results
5. Locate copies of promising texts

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Identifying key concepts & keywords
Alternative terms
e.g. governance / policy / regulation
Alternative spellings
e.g. organisation or organization
Changing terminology
e.g. global warming / climate change

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Analysing your query - an example
Finding information on: ‘Business ethics and
sustainability in international companies’
Main aspects Alternative terms /
synonyms
1. Business ethics corporate social
responsibility, corporate
ethics / values / principles
2. Sustainability environment, sustainable
development
3. International
companies
global organisations,
multinationals

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Now that I know what I want to find out:
What resources would I use?

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Types of Resources
BooksJournals Statistics
Websites Databases Reports

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Selecting information sources
Access via the CPS subject guide:
http://libguides.rhul.ac.uk/CPS/eresources
• Credo Reference, Encyclopedia Britannica (good starting
points)
• LibrarySearch
• General databases (e.g. Jstor,Web of Science)
• Specific resources: e.g. Business Source Complete, Emerald,
IBIS World
• Bloomberg
• Senate House Library (ABI Inform)

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Now that I know what I want to find out
& where to find the resources:
How do I search for information
on my topic?

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Combining Keywords
https://youtu.be/mRSjFaMVSe8
AND – narrows results by returning results
with both terms listed as keywords
e.g. import AND export
OR – broadens results by returning results
with either term listed as keywords
e.g. import OR export
NOT – narrows results by returning results
with only one term listed as a keyword
e.g. import NOT export

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Reviewing your results – hints & tips
• Use quotation marks around phrases:
“supply chain management”, “business ethics”
• Use truncation/wildcard characters ($ ? * -) to replace
letters in search terms:
Global* = global, globally, globality, globalisation, etc.
Globali?ation = globalisation, globalization
Wom?n = woman, women
NB: Database help pages will explain which character is used as the wildcard

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Wildcard searching – hints & tips
Use wildcard characters ($ ? * -) to replace letters in
search terms
Examples
depriv* - finds deprivation, deprive, deprived etc.
wom?n - finds women, woman.
NB: Help pages in online databases will explain
which character is used as the wildcard

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Activity
Search on Business Source Complete for:
1. Corporate social responsibility
2. “corporate social responsibility”
3. “corporate social responsibility”AND ethics
4. “corporate social responsibility” OR ethics
5. “corporate social responsibility” NOT ethics
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Solutions to common issues with accessing resources
CampusAnywhere (VPN)
Senate House Library
Suggest a book!
Use other libraries Inter-Library Loans

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Now that I have found information on
my topic:
How do I know that it is what I
want and good quality
material?

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Evaluating Information
Authority
• Who is the author? Has the work been peer-reviewed or edited?
Accuracy
• Is there a reference list?
Objectivity
• Is the information biased? What is its purpose?Who is it aimed at?
Date
• When was the information created/updated? Is it well-maintained?
Coverage
• Is the information too basic or too advanced?
Presentation on evaluating information

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Now that I have the information (books,
chapters, journal articles, webpages
etc) that I need:
How do I manage & reference
them?

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Selecting & saving results & full text
Most databases allow you to:
Select and save results to a ‘folder’
Save, download or email results to yourself
Save search ‘history’ & re run them
Always make a note of your search queries and which
database you used.

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Citation and referencing
Acknowledge the author of the source
Enable the item to be traced
Evidence of scope and depth of your research
Reference style – the layout & format of your
bibliography – see department handbook

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RefWorks
• Bibliographic management software
• Capture, save and organise references
• Access it via the E-Resources A-Z list
• Contains online self-help tutorials

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Access online resources off-campus
Royal Holloway ‘Campus Anywhere’ (VPN)
The only way to access all of our electronic resources off
campus is to install theVirtual Private Network (VPN)
service, known as 'CampusAnywhere'.
https://intranet.royalholloway.ac.uk/staff/it-
services/getting-started/get-connected/vpn.aspx

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Any questions?
For more help & guidance on any of the topics explored in this course, or for
one to one training sessions, please contact the Library’s Information
Consultant for the Centre for Professional Studies:
Emma Burnett emma.burnett@royalholloway.ac.uk
and see the subject guide https://libguides.rhul.ac.uk/cps