Chemistry Research Tutorial: Search Strategies

Developing a Search Strategy

"A search strategy is a map of a course of action that ought to result in finding an answer to a chemical information problem using library, free Internet, and/or commercial database resources."

- Gary Wiggins, Director of Indiana University's Chemical Informatics Program

Before beginning to search for articles and other chemical information, it's a good idea to have a plan for finding information.

Focus your search by characterizing the kind of information you are seeking. Examples include:
- Information needs: background information, synthetic procedures, specific data
- Type of information or data: article citations, numeric data, spectra
- Subject area: analytical, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry
Decide what resources might help you find the information you need. Examples include:
- Handbooks
- Journal articles
- Textbooks
Come up with terms to use when searching such as:
- Authors' names
- Chemical names
- Subjects (e.g., general class of molecules, uses)
Search until you are certain that you have found the information you sought or that it cannot be found in available resources

When you have a clearer idea of what kinds of information you need, you can begin searching the literature. This tutorial will focus principally on the primary literature.