What is the best way to construct a search strategy?
• Pose the question: formulate a simple statement summarizing the search question Identify the main topics: determine what words or phrases are essential to the search Determine how to search the main topics: locate a controlled term for each search topic making use of the Authority File or the BIOSIS Search Guide. Once the appropriate controlled term is located, consider narrowing or broadening the search. If a controlled term is not found, use free text (including synonyms and variants, etc.) Carry out the search: once you have determined how to search, carry out the search • Review results and modify if necessary: if your results contain irrelevancies, consider limiting the search to a particular field or by linking terms using the appropriate operator. Another option is to select a broader term from the Authority File hierarchy and/or to include synonyms and spelling variants to increase retrieval.
