Plan your search and search strategy - CSA

Marieta Buys 24 Jan 2008

Analyse your topic:

• Read the assignment topic carefully• Analyse the topic “History of the democratisation of SA

constitution: 1996 – 2007.”What?, When?, Where?, Who?, Why?, How?

• Prepare a search strategy Eg. (constitution or democra*) AND “south

africa”• Clarify any unknown or unfamiliar terms

or concepts. • If necessary re-state the topic -use

simple words and phrases that are meaningful to you .

Different searches

• Easy / Quick or simple search

• Advance Search

• Command or Expert Search

Using Free of Natural language

Using Controlled language / Index / Thesaurus

Limitations• Year

• Language

• Peer review Journals

• Title

• Descriptor /

• Ect.

Boolean Search: OR

constitution Democr*Democracy

DemocratisationDemocratization

Boolean Search: AND

constitutionSouth Africa

Democr*Democracy

DemocratisationDemocratization

Boolean Search: NOT

constitutionSouth Africa

Democr*Democracy

DemocratisationDemocratization

Swaziland

How to select a specific database and Why

• Topic

• Subject – Home page

• Books / journals / book reviews / Peer review journals

• National / International

• Assignment / Dissertation

• Time available

CSA - Cambridge Scientific Abstracts

• International Platform with multidisciplinary databases

• Books, Chapters, Essays• Peer Review Journals• Journals references – Linking to Full text• Conferences• Scholars• Dissertations• Accredited Websites

When a Journal is not full text on SABINET

Where do I find the info I need:

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias Textbooks, Theses and

dissertations Conference proceedings, company

reports, People Journals Databases Newspapers & Magazines Internet

Evaluation CARS

Checklist for Research Source Evaluation  Credibility

Trustworthy source Accuracy Reasonableness Support

Evaluation Trustworthy source, the quality of evidence and

argument, author’s credentials, evidence of quality control, known or respected authority, organizational support. Goal: an authoritative source; a source that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.  

Evaluation

• AccuracyUp-to-date, factual, detailed, exact, comprehensive, audience and purpose reflect intentions of completeness and accuracy. Goal: a source that is correct today (not yesterday); a source that gives the whole truth

Evaluation

• ReasonablenessFair, balanced, objective, reasoned, no conflict of interest, absence of fallacies or slanted tone. Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably; a source concerned with the truth.  

Evaluation

• ReasonablenessFair, balanced, objective, reasoned, no conflict of interest, absence of fallacies or slanted tone. Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably; a source concerned with the truth.