Recording your search strategy

As well as taking accurate notes when you are using the research material that you locate, it is also useful to keep a record of how, where and when you located these resources.

It can also be useful to record the 'success' of your search strategy (especially when searching electronic databases), so that you can revise your strategy, or return to it at a later stage.

Some people annotate their search strategy as they conduct their searches, noting the database used, the date searched, and the number of records retrieved.

Click here to see a brief 'search matrix' that was developed for a library search.

In the initial stage of any research you will search extensively to locate the complete picture of research in your area. It is likely that you will want to return to this at a later stage, to refine, or to update your search. Such a search strategy can help you replicate your earlier searches, and give you a structure for refining such searches.