Searching for Resources

Searching for information resources, which include a range of scholarly articles, databases, digital libraries, and research platforms, is an integral part of academic work. However, the sheer volume and variety of information available can be overwhelming.

Tools for effective searching of information sources

Understanding the research topic before beginning any search is essential to dig into the process thoroughly. Clarifying research questions and identifying key terms will facilitate the subsequent development of appropriate search terms and improve the accuracy of search results. Choosing the proper search tools is essential for the best access to resources.

  1. For printer resources: Library Catalog, Knihovny.cz portal, WorldCat.
  2. For electronic resources: EIZ Portal, the Discovery service.
  3. For freely available resources: Google Scholar, Google Books, Internet Archive.
A Quick Guide to Searching

A quick guide to searching

Track your search process - your search queries, sources, and results. This will help you organize your information and avoid duplication of effort, and tracking your process will also give you a basis for citations.

To formulate an effective search query, we should use:

  • Relevant keywords: Identifying key terms and selecting appropriate keywords.
  • Boolean operators: using AND, OR, and NOT operators to combine or exclude search terms.
  • Phrase search: support using quotation marks to accurately search for phrases – „financial statements“.
  • Wildcards and abbreviations: use of asterisks (*) and other symbols (?) to capture variations of search terms – econom* = economics, economic, …
  • Metadata: Many databases allow you to filter results by metadata such as publication date, author, or source type – this way, you can find up-to-date or relevant sources faster.

Critically evaluate the search results by:

  • Credibility of sources: verification of the author and reputation of the publication.
  • Publication dates: taking into account the relevance of recent publications in terms of up-to-date information.
  • Reviewed Content: Preference for peer-reviewed articles that have undergone peer review.
  • Citations and citation rate: examining related research by analyzing references in relevant articles.

Make maximum use of institutional resources:

  • Access to paid databases: Using university subscriptions for comprehensive research.
  • Library assistance: using librarians to assist in advanced search techniques and finding appropriate resources.

University of Arizona Libraries / Youtube

The Importance of Keywords

The importance of keywords for effective search

Keywords are vital in information retrieval and provide relevant and accurate academic material access. They serve primarily as the basis of search queries when searching for appropriate resources. The selection of relevant keywords influences the quality and specificity of search results, and a well-constructed set of keywords can help discover scholarly resources that match research objectives.

Keyword selection process:

  • Brainstorming: Brainstorm and identify the main concepts and themes related to your research topic.
  • Synonyms and related terms: explore synonyms, abbreviations, and related terms commonly used in economics to expand your search results.
  • Specificity vs. generality: balance specific keywords that refine your search and general keywords that capture a broader range of relevant sources.
  • Relevant article analysis: examine abstracts and keywords used in highly relevant articles to identify other possible keywords.

Examples of keywords for different economic topics:

  • Economic growth:
    • Keywords: economic growth, GDP growth, economic development, economic expansion.
  • Inflation:
    • Keywords: inflation, consumer price index, inflationary pressures, deflation.
  • International trade:
    • Keywords: international trade, import and export, trade balance, trade agreement, customs duty.
  • Monetary policy:
    • Keywords: monetary policy, central bank, interest rates, open market operations, quantitative easing.
  • Job market:
    • Keywords: job market, unemployment rate, labor market participation, wage inequality, labor force demography.

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