This document provides instructions for identifying key concepts, developing search strategies, and searching the Business Source Complete database. It explains how to break down a research topic into key concepts to use in searches. Search strategies should combine concepts with Boolean operators like AND and OR. The database can be searched by entering concepts into search boxes and selecting the "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" option. Additional tips are provided for effective database searching techniques.

1. 1La Trobe University
Identifying Keyword Search Terms and Searching
Techniques
Use these slides to learn how to:
 Identify key concepts
 Develop a good search strategy
 Apply the search to the Business
Source Complete Database
 Understand database search
techniques
 Find more information
Image by freearticlesz
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85692252@N06/7849048014/in/photostream/ CC BY 3.0 AU
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au

2. 2La Trobe University
Identifying Concepts
Search topic example:
What makes virtual teams succeed or fail? Is trust the root of any virtual team’s success?
Discuss using a minimum of 10 academic journal articles.
 The question above wants to know how important trust is for the success of virtual
teams
 Key Concept 1: virtual teams
 Key Concept 2: trust
 Key Concept 3: success or fail

3. 3La Trobe University
Search Strategies
Apply your key concepts to a database search strategy
 Key concept 1: virtual teams = Search box 1: “virtual teams” or “virtual teamwork”
 Key concept 2: trust = Search box 2: trust
 Key concept 3: success = Search box 3: succeed or success* or fail*
 Think of similar words or phrases to use
• Teamwork as well as teams
• Succeed as well as success
 Use “inverted commas” so the database will search for the words together
 Using OR between concepts will search the database for any of the concepts
 Use the asterisk * symbol so the database will find words will different endings,
e.g.:
• Success* - you will find success, successes, successful
• Fail* - you will find fail, fails, failed, failure

4. 4La Trobe University
Using the Business Source Complete Database
1. Type one key concept per search box.
2. Leave AND in between each search box so the database knows to combine each concept.
3. To begin with leave the default search field as Select a Field. This will scan the abstract and
citation for your concepts.
• If you get too many search results, try adding another concept or narrow the results
using the limits, such as date.
4. Tick the Scholarly (Peer
Reviewed) Journals box
so that all results will be
academic articles.
5. Click Search.

5. 5La Trobe University
Database Searching Techniques
Searching tips to remember:
 Databases have both scholarly and non-scholarly articles.
Make sure you tick the box if you only want to see scholarly
academic articles.
 To improve the quality and quantity of your search results
add more OR terms. This tells the database to connect the
search terms by OR so it will search for any of those terms.
 Truncation is when you put an asterisk * symbol at the end
of a word to search for all possible endings of a search
term.
 For keyword searching the best search field to begin with is
the default option. The default should include the abstract
and citation fields (not the full article).
 If you are looking for a quick overview on a topic you may
like to try a Title field search. This will only find your terms
in the article title.
 Apply limiting options such as date to narrow your search
results, where required.

6. 6La Trobe University
Need More Information?
 Online videos (linking to YouTube):
• Business Source Complete Database – Finding Journal Articles
• Business Source Complete Database – Keyword Searching and Techniques
• Using the Library Search Tab – Topic Searching
• Finding Books - Using the Library Catalogue’s Keyword Search
 Searching for Journal Articles – see the online tutorial in the Business & Management Library
Skills Module http://latrobe.libguides.com/content.php?pid=184702&sid=1611590
 Searching for information – see the online Library Skills Module
http://latrobe.libguides.com/content.php?pid=171109&sid=1440892
 Searching for books – see the online tutorial in the Business & Management Library Skills Module
http://latrobe.libguides.com/content.php?pid=184702&sid=1611563
 Referencing – see the Academic Referencing Tool for examples of how to reference your sources
using the Harvard Referencing Style http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/help/style-guides.php