A search strategy is a way of exploring your topic to allow you the flexibility to search in a number of different resources and to adapt your search to make sure you are able to identify the literature on your topic area.

In the example flow chart below, the search appears to be quite linear. However, literature searching does not always go smoothly. The diagram shows arrows illustrating going back to change keywords, looking in different resources and and searching again. This reflects the trial and error nature of literature searching where you have to go back and adapt your search based on the results you find.

You need to allow enough time to search, as one search will not usually give you all the literature that you need.

Click on the ticks to see some more information on how to progress your search.