How to search

There is no right or wrong way to search for information. Before you start seaching you need to decide what type of information you require.

searching

It is a good idea to start by looking in a bibliographic database. This will show you what kind of research has been done in your area of interest. It might be tempting to open up Google and enter a search term; beware. This will probably return more results than you need. Many may lead to unreliable or unsuitable resources and you may have to spend even more time looking for the right information.

Thinking about the best place to start your search could save you time in the long run. For example:

  • What kind of information do you need? Scientific information, up to date research or other information such as marketing information, company information, current opinions, laws and regulations or policy information?
  • What types of publications do you need? Scientific peer-reviewed journals, professional journals, theses, conference proceedings, technical reports, recent newspaper articles, policy documents?
  • Does your topic come from a specific area of research or is it more general?
  • Are dates important - do you want recent research, a specific date or all the research in a given time period?
  • Which geographic regions or climate zones are you interested in?
  • What language do you want the information to be presented in?