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GC 698: Non Thesis Research

5 Successful Search Strategies

Follow these 5 steps for a successful search:

1.  Identify key concepts and think of synonyms for each concept.

  • Watch this tutorial to learn more about key concepts.

2.  Build search statements using AND, OR, and sometimes NOT.

  • Use AND to narrow your search and OR to broaden it.

3.  Choose the right databases and resources to search.

  • PubMed is a good starting point for peer-reviewed research articles.
  • Consider books and e-books for background information.

4.  Use filters to refine search results.

  • PubMed has limits for language, patient age, publication type, date, and more.

5.  Chat with a Librarian if you get stuck or need any help!

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