Planning Searches

Our student used the framework given below to help her when planning her searches. She chose to write it down as it helped her to get a concrete picture of what she was looking for, and meant she didn't miss anything out. The framework is given in the list below, followed by Mary's comments relating specifically to her search about GM foods.

• Ask yourself, what do I need to know?

Mary's comments:

I want to know whether there is any information on the health effects of eating GM foods.

• Break the topic down into its broad areas or concepts. You will usually find that your question breaks down into a couple of ideas or concepts.

Mary's comments:

Genetically modified foods – eating – health

• Is there a very specific word or phrase that you are looking for? If there is a commonly used and recognised term for your topic, use it, as most authors will also have used it, and it will make your search more specific.

Mary's comments:

"Genetically modified food" is already quite a specific term – I can't think of any other way it might be expressed.

• Think of some alternative words for the words you have chosen – for instance, ‘young people’ and ‘adolescents’ mean roughly the same thing. So that you don't miss anything, remember: plurals – child, children
  – Abbreviations – UK, United Kingdom
  – Variations in spelling – colour, color, specialised, specialized
  – Variations in terminology used in different cultures and countries – for instance, ‘children with emotional and behavioural problems’ (UK) are referred to as ‘maladjusted children’ in the US. This will help to ensure that you find things that an author might have referred to using different terms. But don't worry if you can't always find any sensible substitutes for the words you have chosen – there might not be any.

Mary's comments:

Genetically modified food or foods, GM food or foods. Eating, consumption, consuming. Health effects, side effects, consequences, harm, risk

• Are any of the words vague or ambiguous? If they are, cut them out – it is important to be precise so that you only find what is relevant.

Mary's comments:

I'll take out the health effects bit – the consumption and side effects words seem to sum up better what I mean.

• Next try writing out your request in full.

Mary's comments:

I want to find out about the consequences, harm, risk or side effects – of eating, consuming or the consumption of – GM or genetically modified food or foods

Further questions are part of the framework as follows:

• Are there any geographical or date limitations you need to build in to your search? (e.g. are you looking for the worldwide or european perspective? Are you interested in historical or very current material?)
• Does your statement make sense?
• Are all the words that relate to each other in the right place?

If they are, you are ready to choose your sources and start searching.

We will tackle this in Section 4.