T
here are four simple steps in constructing a search strategy:
Pose the Question
Identify the Main Subjects
Determine How to Search the Main Subjects
Formulate the Search Strategy
The first step in designing a search strategy is the creation of a specific yet
comprehensive statement that expresses all the elements of your search.
Once you have identified the main subjects, it is fairly easy to select appropriate
Concept Codes, Biosystematic Codes, Super Taxonomic Groups and subject terms,
choose specific data elements and build a strategy using the command language
of your search system.
E x a m p l e :
What information is available on the pollen exposure of workers handling plants?
Select the important ideas to be searched.
A .
Occupational Health
B .
P l a n t s
C .
P o l l e n
Once you have identified the main subjects, check the BIOSIS Search Guide to deter-
mine how the subjects should be searched.
A .
The first main subject is Occupational Health. In the Master Index of the
BIOSIS Search Guide under Occupational Health, there is a Concept Code,
indicating that this topic represents a broad subject area. We choose the code
for Occupational Health (CC37013).
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
E X : OCCUPATIONAL ADJ HEALTH (5220)
C C : Occupational Health C C 3 7 0 1 3 ( 2 4 9 4 0 )
T o x i c o l o g y
see CC under OCCUPATIONAL TOXICOLOGY
2 0
C o n s t r u c t i n g a S e a r c h S t r a t e g y
C o n s t r u c t i n g a
S e a r c h S t r a t e g y
S T E P 1
S T E P 2
S T E P 3
S T E P 4
The first step in designing
a search strategy is the
creation of a specific yet
comprehensive statement
that expresses all the
elements of your search.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
1 Pose the Question
2 Identify the Main Subjects
3 Determine How to Search the Main Subjects
