Searching the Literature: Saving What You Find

Keep a record of the search process, you may need to reproduce it at a later date.

What do you need to record?

• Full names of resources used e.g. IEEE Xplore, Scopus etc.
• Date search was last run.
• Full search strategy; include all terms, how they were combined and advanced search techniques used.
• Number of results retrieved for each database.

Why might you need to save searches?

• Practicality - Research is usually spread across a period of months and sometimes years and you may need to re-run searches several times over this period. Saving means you won't have to type all your search terms in every time you need to re-run.

• If you need to amend, having the original search saved makes this process easier. 

• To provide an accurate record of the search. If you don't know how or where you searched you may forget and consequentially lose relevant material. 

•  Your supervisor may ask to see your search strategy and/or you may want to share it for feedback or collaboration.

• You may need to include a copy in the methods section or appendix of your piece of work.

• Post-publication you may be asked by other researchers who have read your work for a copy of the search strategy

• Most importantly saving everything at the initial stages will save you time in the long run!

Most databases will allow you to create a personal account, enabling you to:

• Save searches and individual articles.
• Create folders to organise what you have found.
  e.g. for different modules or different chapters within dissertations or projects.
• Set up email alerts so the database notifies you when new articles are published.

Each database is different but look on the screen for where it states, My Account, Personalisation, Create an Account or similar and follow the instructions.