This document provides guidance on developing an effective search strategy for research. It explains how to formulate a clear research question and break it down into key concepts using a PICO framework. Specific search techniques are covered, such as using subject headings, keywords, truncation and Boolean operators. The importance of searching multiple databases systematically using both controlled vocabularies and keywords is emphasized. Tips are given for tracking further relevant sources and managing search results.

1. Exercise Science / Exercise
Physiology
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www.latrobe.edu.au/library

2. 2
The Research Question
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• You cannot conduct an effective search without a well
formulated question.
• Think about the concepts within your research question.
• Identify and list the keywords and their synonyms that
identify the concepts.
• Consider the ‘level of evidence’ to be sought – the
research methodologies that will help eliminate bias.

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Levels of Evidence
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4. 4
Developing a search strategy: PICO
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1. Break the research question down into concepts:
• Population
• Intervention
• Comparison
• Outcome
• Research / Study design – Consider adding another column for
the Research Design. For example: which study type will give
the highest level of evidence to answer the question
2. Identify for each facet:
• Synonyms
• Spelling variants
• Subject headings

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PICO example
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Population /
Problem
Intervention Comparison Outcome
Research
Design (if
applicable)
Rheumatoid
arthritis
Water
therapy
Pain If applicable:
which study
type will give
the highest
level of
evidence to
answer the
question

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Useful search tips
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• Terminology: If you are not sure of the terminology, use related text books or
Google to gather a basic understanding of your topic.
• Spelling variations: replace letters with ? to retrieve words with variable
spelling, such as organization OR organisation
Use ? – organi?ation
• Truncation: replace word endings with the truncation symbol to retrieve words
such as child, children, children's.
Use * - child*
•Phrase searching: place quotation marks around common phrases to retrieve
records with a specific phrase. For example water therapy
Use – “water therapy”

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Linking terms: BOOLEAN operators
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• AND retrieves records contacting both of two terms:
Back pain AND exercise
• OR retrieves records containing any of the terms (OR
retrieves more records):
Back pain OR back ache

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Example of a completed PICO map
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Population /
Problem
Intervention Comparison Outcome
Research
Design (if
applicable)
“Rheumatoid
arthritis”
OR
RA
“Water
therapy”
OR
Hypdrotherap
*
OR
“Aquatic
therapy”
Pain
OR
Ache
RCT
AND
OR

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Databases
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• Electronic indexes that help you identify journal articles in
your research area
• NO single database indexes every journal possible in a
subject area – only those that match their selection
criteria
• Efficient, effective and less biased searching therefore
requires multiple database searching
• Select by database name or by subject area under the
DATABASE tab from the Library home page.

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Types of databases
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• Citation databases:
Entries have the citation, subject headings and often an abstract,
often they will link to full text. Example CINAHL and Medline
• Full text databases:
Entries have the citation and abstract and in most cases the full text of
an article. Examples: Health, & Medical Complete (Proquest),
Informit Health
• Pre-appraised evidence databases:
- The Cochrane Library is a multi-database resources which varies in
output. For example the Cochrane Database for Systematic reviews
contains complete systematic reviews
- BMJ Best Practice incorporates Clinical Evidence which summarises
the current state of knowledge and uncertainty about the prevention
and treatment of clinical conditions, based on thorough searches and
appraisal of the literature. Database for Systematic reviews contains
complete systematic reviews

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Systematic searching
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• Systematic searches are a combination of using the
terminology of the database (Subject Headings) combined
with the free text or keyword searching (alternate terms
encountered in the literature).
• While there may be some overlap, you will also find many
different articles when using both ways of searching for
the same concept.
• Comprehensive systematic searching requires subject
heading and keyword searching.

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Systematic searching : Why use both methods?
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Controlled Vocabulary (Subject Searching) Keyword Searching
Medline and CINAHL (amongst others) are indexed
by subject experts who assign a subject heading
that best describes the article. These subject
headings are from a fixed list of terms that are
arranged in a hierarchical structure that show the
relationships between terms. This allows searching
at various levels of specificity.
Words not taken from a specific list. Can use words
that you would normally use when searching. Need
to account for variations for spelling, terminology &
clinical descriptions.
More efficient and precise way of searching where
you retrieve on those records which list the subject
heading for your concept.
Broader way of searching where you will retrieve
records which mention your keywords but may or
may not be specifically about your concept.
Searches only the subject field. Searches words used by the author in other fields
such as the title or abstract.
Provides consistency in the description of the
content of the articles
Useful when searching for a specific term or phrase
when there is not an appropriate subject heading.
Do not need to think of synonyms for your topic. Useful for searching topics that use new concepts
or terminology (subject headings take a while to be
developed).

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Database aids:
Controlled vocabulary & scope notes
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• Subject Headings (Controlled vocabulary or Thesauri):
used to overcome differences in individual authors’ use of
terminology.
• Scope note: describes how the term is used in the
database, the ‘scope’ of the term; the history of the
indexing.
• Explode: To explode a term means to include narrower
terms for that subject heading.

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Decreasing or Increasing your results
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• Decrease results by using limits. Choose limits according
to your search criteria. For example: limit by population,
study type or date.
• Increase your results by using another keyword, or a
broader search term. Remove the least important
concept, or try another database.

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Further tracking
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• If you find an article that is ideal for your assignment,
check the reference list to see cited articles.
• Use Google Scholar to forward track by searching for the
article title and checking Cited by and Related articles.

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Google Scholar
scholar.google.com
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• Search scholarly literature for articles, theses, books,
abstracts, professional societies, online repositories,
universities and other web sites across the world of
scholarly research.
• You can access items held in the Library through Google
Scholar. See instructions

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Search results – finding the full text.
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• Some databases will have a Full Text finder icon or pdf
link
• If not, search the title of the journal via the Journal tab on
the library home page and follow the links to the full text
• If not held by the Library, request the article via Document
Delivery

18. Thank you
Jill Stokes
Senior Learning Advisor (Library)
Science, Health and Engineering
Curricular Services
Library | La Trobe University | Bendigo 3550
T: 03 5444 7395| E: j.stokes@latrobe.edu.au | W: www.latrobe.edu.au/library
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