Develop

a Search Strategy

Your Name: _______________________________________

1. What is your research question or topic? Be as specific as you can. Circle the key
concepts (the most important words or phrases).

m
Exa

ple

2. In the left column in the chart below, list the key concepts you circled in Number 1. In
the right column, list related words or synonyms beside each key concept.

friendship
Conc1:______________

friendship OR relationships OR dating

AND


Conc2:_______________
social media OR social networking OR facebook
social media

Related words/phrases in each row should be connected with OR

Conc1:________________
AND


Conc2:________________
AND

Conc3:_______________

3. Take a look at the concepts and related phrases you listed in Number 2. In the space
below, use the asterisk (*) to truncate search terms as appropriate.

Your librarian: Laura Gariepy | lwgariepy@vcu.edu

4. Please provide the following citation information for at least two (2) scholarly sources you
found that are relevant to your research question:


First Source:
Title: ______________________________________________________________________
Author: ____________________________________________________________________
Journal (if applicable):_________________________________________________________
Year of Publication: _____________

Second Source:
Title: ______________________________________________________________________
Author: ____________________________________________________________________
Journal (if applicable):_________________________________________________________
Year of Publication: _____________

NOTE: From Fall 2013 to Spring 2015, responses to the questions on this worksheet will be used for a research
study about student learning and library instruction. All names and identifiers will be removed from the worksheets
for research purposes, and only the researchers will have access to the original worksheets. If you wish for any
reason that responses to your worksheet are not included in the research study, please check the opt out box here.
I do not wish for my responses to be included in the research study.

Your librarian: Laura Gariepy | lwgariepy@vcu.edu