IMD312/307:

REFERENCE AND INFORMATION

SERVICES FOR INFORMATION
AGENCIES

Topic 11: Search Strategy

 SEARCH STRATEGY
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Definition
1. The process of finding answers to reference
queries in the fastest and most efficient way

2. Comprehensive plans for finding information --

includes defining the information need, and
determining the form in which it is needed, if it
exists, where it is located, how it is organized, and
how to retrieve it.
<http://www.education.com/definition/search- strategies/>
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 SEARCH STRATEGY: A MODEL OF 4

THE SEARCH PROCESS

In 1936, Carter Alexander proposed a model of
searching that lays out the steps taken in conducting
manual search in reference collection. This model
describe six steps;

1.Clarifying the question

2.Selecting the materials
3.Prioritising the sources identified
4.Locating the sources
5.Searching the materials that have been selected
6.Evaluating the process and repeat if necessary
SEARCH STRATEGY: SEARCH PROCESS 5

 Clarifying the question

› Which discipline? – find out what domain of knowledge

the terms comes from
› Be familiar with the topic – check the dictionary or
encyclopaedia
› What level of detail is the information needed?
› How much information?
› Use of the information – what does the user plan to do
with the information?
 Who will use it?
› Time needed
› Current or retrospective
› Format
 SEARCH STRATEGY: SEARCH
PROCESS
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 Selecting the materials

› Determine if the term has been established long enough to
appear in standard reference books, such as encyclopedias
or dictionaries of the subject field or whether recent issues
of index must be examined
› Consult subject heading list to determine whether the
topic appears as subject heading that can be searched in a
catalogue
› Consider to search database if the term is too new to
appear as subject heading
› Knowledge of reference collection and its content critical
to success
 SEARCH STRATEGY: SEARCH 7

PROCESS
 Prioritize the sources identified in the order of
their likelihood to contain the information needed
› Consider the level of detail desired and the level of
understanding exhibited by the user
› For a layperson – a quick search in the general periodicals
index or an up-to-date encyclopaedia will be a good first
priority
SEARCH STRATEGY: SEARCH 8

PROCESS
• Locate the sources
• Are they in reference area?
• Held by the library?
• Is it necessary to call another location or
refer the user elsewhere?
 SEARCH STRATEGY
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 Search the materials that have been

selected until you find the answer or until
you are sure that the answer is not found
there
› This process is evaluative – determination
of suitability varies with librarian’s
assessment of the user’s information need
SEARCH STRATEGY: SEARCH 10

PROCESS

• Evaluating the process and repeat if

necessary
The search process is cyclic and may require
asking the person for further clarification, for more
time needed or whether a referral to another library
would be desirable
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METHODS IN SEARCH
STRATEGY
1. Manual Search
2. Computer Assisted Search
 STRATEGIES IN BIBLIOGRAPHIC 12

SEARCHING
Specific to general approach
 A search in which the searcher has a known relevant
item or topic in mind and wishes to find other item or
topic alike
E.g.
A user knows the author and title of a book and wishes to find similar
books by different authors can examined the subject headings and used it
to locate additional items

This approach work well in bibliographic system that

display description such as catalogue
 APPROACH IN SEARCH 13

STRATEGY
 General to search approach
› Syndetic structure that provides a logical overview or map
of the concepts and vocabulary of a particular topic area.
E.g.
› Determine the correct level of specificity. The best way to
determine the level of specificity is to consult thesaurus
(LSCH, SLSH, MeSH, etc…)
› The alphabetical listing and the tree structure can be used
together to determine the correct level of specificity.
 SEARCH STRATEGY...FINDING 14

ANSWER TO….

Various types of Reference Questions

• Directional
• Ready reference
• Specific search question
• Research
Refer to Katz, W.A.
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THANK YOU