This document provides guidance on developing effective information retrieval skills for research. It outlines the importance of such skills for gaining perspective on topics, avoiding duplicating work, and completing literature reviews. Tips are provided on planning searches, using different search strategies and tools, and dealing with situations where there is too much or too little information found. The document emphasizes reflecting on information needs, using appropriate search terms and tools, and recording reference details as the search is conducted.

1. Information Retrieval Skills

2. Information retrieval for researchIt is important that you develop effective information retrieval skills so that you can:Get perspective on a topicIdentify information and ideas relevant to your workAvoid reinventing the wheelIncrease your knowledge of a subject areaProvide intellectual content for your own workComplete a successful search for a literature review

3. Planning for your searchReflect on your information needs before you startIdentify key concepts from your assignment requirementsBackground reading & viewing, brainstorm with peers, concept mapIdentify synonyms, related terms, alternative spelling and abbreviationsDetermine search limits such as date, geographyDetermine appropriate types of sources of information you need (journal articles, books, reports, statistics, conference proceedings)Determine best search tools (Database(s), Library Catalogue, Google)

4. Search Strategies and TipsUsing ‘AND’ narrows a search: results must include both terms, e.g:

5. Inflation AND “developing countries”Using ‘OR’ broadens a search: results can include either term, e.g:planning OR management

6. benefits OR strengths OR advantages

7. GFC OR “global financial crisis”Using ‘NOT’ specifies a term must not appear in the results, e.g:accounting NOT forensicWhen searching for phrases, enclose using: “….. ” , e.g:“forensic accounting”

8. “behavioural economics”Where do you start looking?DatabasesLibrary CatalogueGoogle

9. Search Tools – the contentsCatalogueBooks, eBooks, chapters

10. Journals and conferences

11. Standards (International)

12. DVDs, CDs

13. Selected websites

14. Selected reportsDatabasesJournal articles

15. Conference papers

16. Newspaper and trade magazines

17. Professional membership resources

18. Online reference and statistics

19. Company reportsGoogleProfessional association resources

20. Government sites and reports

21. Company informationGoogle- TipsUse advanced searchLimit to file types and domainsUse phrase searchingUse Google ScholarSet up access full-text at QUTConsider other search engines

22. Library Catalogue TipsStart with keyword searchingUse items records to identify subject headingsUse Subject Headings to focus your searchUse Advanced SearchLimit item typesUse Journal Title search to locate full text

23. DatabasesUse the database guideResearch is interdisciplinary – think outside of the boxDo not limit yourself to full text onlyUse limiters and controlled vocabulary to focus your search

24. Too much or too little?Too Much InformationIs your topic too broad?Narrow your topic using more specific termsUse ANDUse date limiters / search limitersNot enough informationIs your search too specific?Check your spelling!Use TRUNCATION and OR operatorsAre you looking in the right placeMaybe there isn’t much on the topic

25. Some final notesThink before you start – concept map / brain stormStart with the catalogue – database – internet (or at least use all of the tools)Develop a search strategy and be prepared to change it!Record all the details of all your references as you goYou will need this information for your in text citations and reference listsRemember one useful book / article leads to othersReferences (back in time)Cited By (forward in time)