Search Skills: Finding Information Effectively

Before you start searching, take time to understand exactly what's being asked.

Sometimes you’ll be given a topic as part of an assignment brief. Other times — like in a dissertation or independent project — you’ll be expected to choose your own topic. Either way, it’s important to:

• Identify what kind of information is needed

• Understand the scope and focus of your topic

• Consider how the task should be approached (e.g. describe, evaluate, compare)

Not sure your topic is researchable?
Check if there’s enough literature to support it.

Working with a set topic?

If you’ve been given an assignment brief, our Understanding your assignment brief guide can help you:

• Spot instruction words (e.g. discuss, evaluate, analyse)

• Identify key subject terms and limiting phrases

• Define a clear focus

• Use a worksheet to unpick your topic step by step

Even for dissertations or independent projects, these steps will help you refine your topic and plan your search.

Not all searches are the same.

Tip: Your module reading list is a useful starting point, but it is not automatically the limit of your research. Check the assessment brief and marking criteria to see whether you are expected to find and evaluate additional sources. Expectations generally increase as you progress through your course. Dissertations and research projects require independent searching appropriate to the project, although reading lists and supervisors may provide starting points.

However, most UG programmes include a final-year project or dissertation, where you will be expected to carry out some form of independent research and search beyond the provided readings.

Postgraduate taught (PGT) dissertations usually require you to go further — searching beyond set readings to build your own evidence base.

For postgraduate research (PGR) students, thorough independent searching is always expected — and needs to be planned, documented, and repeated as your research progresses.

Tip: Not sure which applies? Start with your reading list and check the assignment brief. Your tutor can also help clarify expectations.

Simple searches — like typing a few words into LibrarySearch — can work well when you're just starting out. But for more focused or complex tasks, you’ll need to build a structured search strategy to get the best results.

This becomes especially important when:

• You're researching a specific question or comparing complex ideas

• You're working on dissertations or final-year projects

• You need to search multiple databases, not just Google or LibrarySearch

• Your topic uses different terminology in different sources

A structured approach helps you:

• Find more relevant and reliable results

• Save time by reducing irrelevant hits

• Show academic rigour in your process

Some of the most useful search techniques include:

• Breaking down your topic into key concepts

• Using synonyms or related terms to capture variation

• Combining terms using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)

• Using quotation marks for exact phrases (e.g. "climate change")

• Using truncation (e.g. educat) and wildcards to find word variations

• Using filters (e.g. by date, subject, peer-reviewed only)

Tip: Start simple and build up. You won’t need all these tools for every assignment — but knowing when to use them can make your searches faster, stronger, and more effective.

Explore these techniques in detail → Boolean Operators and Advanced Search Techniques

LibrarySearch is Abertay’s main academic search tool. It’s the best place to start for most assignments — covering books, journal articles, eBooks, theses, conference papers, and Open Access research, all in one place.

For more advanced projects, you might also want to use other academic search tools — such as Google Scholar or Semantic Scholar — to complement LibrarySearch and broaden your results.

Each tool has its own strengths, and choosing the right one can save you time and improve your results.

Explore your options:

• See our guide to Search and Discovery Tools
  
  
• Or jump straight to the comparison table

Learn more about individual tools:

• LibrarySearch

• Google Scholar

• Semantic Scholar

Tip: No single tool covers everything. Start with LibrarySearch, then choose additional tools based on your topic and level of study.

Not getting the results you need?
These common search problems — and how to fix them — will help you troubleshoot and improve your strategy.

Too many results?

• Add more specific keywords

• Use quotation marks for exact phrases (e.g. "climate change")

• Apply filters (e.g. date, peer review)

Too few results?

• Broaden your keywords or use synonyms

• Use truncation to capture variations (e.g. comput* )

• Relax filters

Irrelevant results?

• Combine terms using AND to narrow the focus

• Replace vague terms with more precise ones

• Try phrase searching

Missing useful sources?

• Try a different database — especially subject-specific ones

• Use citation chaining:

  • Backward chaining – check the reference list of a useful source

  • Forward chaining – find newer articles that cite that source
    Explore this further → Citation Chaining Techniques

Still not finding what you need?
See our guide to Boolean Operators and Advanced Search Techniques 

Found a great academic source? Don’t stop there — use it as a springboard to deepen your research.

• Backward chaining – explore the references it cites

• Forward chaining – use Scopus or Web of Science to see who has cited it since publication

This helps you:

• Build a stronger literature base — one reliable source leads to others

• Trace how ideas have developed — see how a debate has evolved over time

• Identify key researchers and studies — spot influential voices in the field

Full how-to guide → Citation Chaining Techniques

For dissertations or postgraduate work:

Coming soon: A full guide to systematic searching for dissertations and postgraduate work.

In the meantime, here are some key principles:

• Define your question precisely

• Search across multiple platforms

• Keep a detailed search log (search strings, filters, results)

• Track and document citation chaining

• Review and refine regularly

Need help? Ask your subject librarian or dissertation supervisor.

It’s one of the most common student questions — and unfortunately, there’s no set number of sources.

But here are signs you're on the right track:

• You’ve found key authors or studies mentioned across multiple sources

• You understand the main viewpoints or debates in the area

• New sources are starting to repeat information you’ve already seen

• You can clearly explain how your sources support your argument or research aim

Tip: Research is iterative — it’s normal to go back and refine your searches as your ideas develop.

Still unsure? Ask your tutor or supervisor what’s expected for your assignment.

Use this checklist to guide your searching from start to finish. Whether you're planning your approach or troubleshooting problems, these quick prompts can help you stay focused and effective.

Before You Search

1. Understand your assignment

2. Identify key concepts

3. List keywords and synonyms

4. Review your reading list

While You Search

1. Choose the right tools

2. Use quotation marks and Boolean logic

3. Apply filters

4. Search across databases

When You Get Stuck

1. Adjust keywords or filters

2. Try synonyms

3. Use built-in help features

4. Ask the library or your tutor

To Go Further

1. Check reference lists

2. Use "Cited by" links

3. Keep a search log — or use a tool like RefWorks

Tip: Searching is iterative — refining your approach is part of the process.