Basic Search Tips
Breaking down your topic into keywords, or the core concepts, will help you search more effectively. You are not likely to receive helpful results if you input your entire research question.
Example Topic: How does Lean Manufacturing impact production efficiency and environmental sustainability in the Industrial Technology sector?
The specifics of your topic will matter when selecting sources, but for searching you only need the most essential components.
Keywords: Lean Manufacturing, production efficiency, environmental sustainability, Industrial Technology sector
How does Lean Manufacturing impact production efficiency and environmental sustainability in the Industrial Technology sector?
Almost all words have synonyms that convey similar or identical meanings. While formulating your topic, attempt to think of at least one synonym for each keyword. While not all keywords may have synonyms, the majority of them do!
Example:
Keyword: Carbon sequestration Synonym: Carbon capture
Keep and Eye Out
Scholars may occasionally use terminology that is unfamiliar to you or has a specific meaning within their field. During your research, be on the lookout for unfamiliar terms or frequently used words. Conduct a search using these terms to uncover additional relevant sources.
QuickSearch has many tools that can be used to refine your search.
To assess a source, apply the five W's: