Search strategies – Bath Spa University

When you're looking for books, articles or other material for an assignment or dissertation, it helps to have a systematic approach.

Scope
  • Determine the precise scope of your topic. Check in specialised dictionaries or encyclopaedias for the meanings of specialist terms or for a basic overview of the subject.
  • Decide on the scope of your search; how much information do you need and what type?
    • How far back in time do you want to go?
    • Is your approach international or concentrated on this country?
    • Are you prepared to visit other libraries and organisations to do further research?
Analysis
  • Analyse your chosen topic carefully. Ensure that you have covered all the aspects of it that you intend to include in your final work.
  • Don't discount the fact that you may need to adjust your sights depending on how much - or how little - information you discover.
Keywords
  • Get an idea of the way your chosen topic is described in the literature or on the Internet. It's important to be aware of variant spellings or terms so that you can quickly home in on relevant material in books, databases, journals and other electronic sources including the Internet.
Evaluation
  • Always critically evaluate the material that you find whether it is a book, an article or a website. Make sure it really is relevant and appropriate to your needs.
Record
  • Keep track of the books, articles, websites, etc. that you find by recording the references as you go*. It can be very difficult to retrace your steps at a later stage. This also applies to anything you request on interlibrary loan.
  • Check with your tutor which method of citing references they want you to use. For more information, check our referencing guide.

Your subject librarian can also offer help and advice on your literature search.

Find your subject librarian and book an appointment below.

Subject librarians

Art and Design

Helen Rayner

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email h.rayner@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 875648

Business and Management

Melissa Collier-Baker

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email m.collier-baker@bathspa.ac.uk

Creative Computing

Helen Rayner

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email h.rayner@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 875648

Creative Writing

Katie Rickard

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email k.rickard@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 876178

Criminology

Amy Price

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email a.price@bathspa.ac.uk

Normal Working Days: Tuesday-Thursday

Education

Lis Elliott

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email e.elliott@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 87 6011

English

Katie Rickard

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email k.rickard@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 876178

Film and Media

Helen Rayner

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email h.rayner@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 875648

Geography

Amy Price

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email a.price@bathspa.ac.uk

Normal Working Days: Tuesday-Thursday

History and Heritage

Katie Rickard

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email k.rickard@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 876178

Law

Melissa Collier-Baker

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email m.collier-baker@bathspa.ac.uk

Music

Katie Rickard

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email k.rickard@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 876178

Performing Arts

Katie Rickard

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email k.rickard@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 876178

Politics

Katie Rickard

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email k.rickard@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 876178

Psychology

Amy Price

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email a.price@bathspa.ac.uk

Normal Working Days: Tuesday-Thursday

Publishing

Katie Rickard

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email k.rickard@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 876178

Religions, Philosophy, and Ethics

Katie Rickard

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email k.rickard@bathspa.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 876178

Sciences

Amy Price

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email a.price@bathspa.ac.uk

Normal Working Days: Tuesday-Thursday

Sociology

Amy Price

Currently working both on campus and remotely

To book an appointment, or for an enquiry, email a.price@bathspa.ac.uk

Normal Working Days: Tuesday-Thursday

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