Narrow the topic
Add a population, place, period or perspective. A focused question helps you decide what evidence counts.
Research Basics
Research basics
Build a search that can evolve.
Good research rarely comes from one perfect query. Start with concepts, learn from the results, then revise.
Test.
Refine.
Research develops through careful observation, credible evidence and a willingness to revise the original idea.
Research questionHow does social media affect university student wellbeing?
↓Concept 1social media
Instagram · online networks
Concept 2university students
undergraduates · young adults
Concept 3wellbeing
mental health · stress
Build keyword groups
List the major concepts, then add synonyms and related terms. Database language may differ from everyday language.
Use Boolean logic
AND combines different concepts. OR groups alternatives. Quotation marks can search an exact phrase.
Read the results
Use titles, abstracts and subject headings to discover stronger vocabulary. Revise and search again.
Filter with purpose
Narrow by date, format, subject or availability only when those limits answer the assignment.
Evaluate before using
Check currency, relevance, authority, accuracy and purpose. Peer review is useful, but relevance and evidence still matter.
Source check
Pause before you cite.
- Currency Is the date suitable for the topic?
- Relevance Does it answer your actual question?
- Authority Who created it, and what qualifies them?
- Accuracy Are claims supported and traceable?
- Purpose Is it informing, persuading, selling or entertaining?