Scientific Information
Retrieval
 

1. Basic Library Skills

2. Using Library Catalogue

3. Systematic Information
Search

3.1. Finding Search Terms
3.2. Formulating a Search Profile

4. Selecting Databases
4.1. NELLI-portal

4.2. Melinda
4.3. Ebrary
4.4. ProQuest
4.5. EbscoHost
4.6. ScienceDirect
4.7. Sage Journals 
4.8. ISI Web of Science

5. Evaluating Results
5.1. Improving Your Search

6. Citing Sources
6.1. RefWorks - Reference Management
6.2. Avoiding Plagiarism 


3. Systematic Information Search

Information search is a creative and long process, where one often has to go back and some stages have to be repeated several times before reaching the end result. How and where you search depends on the subject and the field of study or research. Your specific information need has influences on which databases you select, what search terms you use, and how you combine your search terms.

It is very important that you can use different search techniques. By choosing the appropriate technique you will be able to speed up your information search and can make sure that the results meet your quality demands. In most cases a planned search will bring you the benefit of high quality search results. When you know how to limit your search, you will quickly find a way to search only for relevant items and ensure on the other hand that no important item is missing from your list of search results.

Systematic information search contains:

  • getting to know your topic and define the focus of your research
  • deciding what search terms to use
  • formulating search profile, how to combine search terms
  • doing searches in various databases
  • evaluating the results of your searches, in order to decide whether you need to revise your search terms and search statements
  • saving your search results for example with RefWorks to be able to cite them in your thesis