Library Guides: Research Essentials: Find the right resources

Identify your search terms

When you're researching a complex topic, it's difficult to know what to search for. Coming up with search terms can help you focus your search. Your search terms are based on the main concepts you need to research. You can figure out what search terms to use by:

Reading your subject readings and lecture notes - is there specific terminology that your readings use to describe your topic?
Looking at the reference list for your subject readings - does it contain anything relevant to you and how do they describe the topic?
Analysing your assignment question - what language do they use to describe the topic?
Thinking about how language around your topic has changed over time - has the topic been described in different ways throughout time (For example: online media being called "web" in the 1990s but then being described as "content" post 2015)
Thinking about synonyms - are there other words that mean the same thing as your topic (For example: "film" vs "movies" vs "cinema")
Trying different spelling variations (For example: "colour" vs "color")

New to your topic?

Develop a general understanding before you deep dive into niche aspects of a topic

Use encyclopedias and other reference materials to get a concise, up-to-date overview of a topic. They will also lead you straight to the most important or informative publications in the field.
Look for a 'Research Starter' result at the top of a Discovery search - these entries are from encyclopedias.
Check your subject library guides for more recommendations.

Build a search strategy

Library databases, including Discovery and the library catalogue, are a little different to general search engines. They give you very precise results based on exactly what you asked for. To get better results, try these top tips:

only use your keywords to search, not full sentences
use quotes to find exact phrases or titles e.g. "climate change"
use the filters to limit your results e.g. peer reviewed, date, source type

This video shows you how to combine your search terms in databases to get better results:

Not getting the results you need?

Too many results?

Use filters to limit the results by date, or source type
Use Boolean searching or advanced search options to make your search more precise

Can't find anything?

Try a general source like an encyclopedia for recommended sources
Broaden your search by adding alternative keywords

Results aren't relevant?

Choose a subject specific database that is recommended for your area of study
Consider if you need to exclude any terms from your search

Know where to search

The library collection includes access to thousands of online databases and physical collections. It is usually best to search in more than one place, as no one database or platform has access to all resources on your topic.

Use Discovery to start your search and find scholarly journal articles. Discovery searches across many of the online databases and physical library collections, but not all of them.
Use the library catalogue to focus on finding books and ebooks on your topic.
Consult Specialist library guides to find further databases and key sources of information for your study area.
Looking for a special type of resource? Use our Find and Access guides to find out how to find news, statistics, images or other resources types.

Comparing where to search

For an overview of the differences between the most common search platforms, visit the Comparing search pathways guide.

Tip: Access online resources quicker

The Library offers browser extensions and other tools that can seamlessly give you access to locked, subscription only content you find online. There's no need to remember passwords, sign in to sites, or go back to the library databases to find an unlocked version. You can find out more about how to download and use these tools on our Search tools webpage.

Keep track of results

It's essential to keep track of what you have found when you are searching so that you:

Know what you have already found
Manage your reading and note-taking
Accurately reference the sources you use in your assessment

There are lots of ways to keep records of your searches. Most databases allow you to save searches, and to email or print search results. You can also use reference management software.