Step 3-4: Developing and Running a Search String
Developing a search string includes the combination of words/phrases (keywords) and the search syntax/logic that brings them together (e.g., Boolean Operators, quotation marks, parentheses, etc.).
These components are the cornerstone of any effective search because they lay the foundation for your results. Your search string will determine how relevant the results are to your topic.
Finding Your Keywords
Keywords (or “search terms”) are words and phrases used to express the main concepts and ideas you are searching for. As you are determining the main concepts for your search, be sure to include scientific keywords (e.g., metabolism, immunology, gene expression, etc.) as well as 3Rs keywords (e.g., animal welfare, animal use alternatives, 3Rs alternatives, etc.) relevant to your research. Also, include synonyms and spell out any acronyms/abbreviations (e.g., AWIC or “Animal Welfare Information Center”).
Example:
You are searching for environmental enrichment for hamsters—
Some of your keywords are: “Environmental enrichment” and hamster.
Additional synonymous keywords could include:
Hamster: hamster OR hamsters OR cricetinae OR <insert specific breed>
Environmental enrichment: “environmental enrichment” OR “enriched housing” OR “nesting material” OR bedding OR cardboard OR tube OR wheel OR toy
The keywords you choose are important because they serve as the bridge between what you search and the content within the databases you are searching. The keywords you choose also help to determine the results you will get from your search. Adding synonyms and/or related terms to your search string is also crucial because authors don’t always use the same keywords, spellings, or phrases to refer to the same topic. For example, anesthesia and anaesthesia are the same word, but spelled differently. Another example would be if one author uses ‘cattle’ throughout his/her paper, whereas another author might solely use the term ‘dairy cow(s)’ or ‘bovine’, etc.
Where can you find synonymous or related terms for your keywords?
- Within your protocol
- AWIC’s Examples of 3Rs Keywords
- Animal Welfare Information Center webpages
- National Agricultural Library Thesaurus
- Try searching for “animal use alternatives” in the search box and explore the hierarchy of terms. Look through the list of “entry terms” to find related terms or synonyms.
- 3Rs Organization websites
- PubMed’s MeSH thesaurus
- Type a term or phrase into the search bar (e.g. animal use alternatives). Look through the list of “entry terms” to find related terms or synonyms that you can include when you’re searching in other databases. Note that there might not be a MeSH term for all of your terms and phrases.
- Papers published on the topic or related topics
- Wikipedia articles
- For example, if your protocol involves the gastrointestinal tract, searching “gastrointestinal tract” in Wikipedia will give you an overview of the parts and functions of this body system which could help you identify synonyms and keywords.
- A simple Google search on the topic(s)