3.1 Assess your search results

To determine whether you need to revise your search strategy, appraise your search results for:

Quantity

Example from Proquest

You should not have to spend hours sifting through hundreds of records. Revising your search strategy is more efficient.

Look at the number of records that have been returned.

• Is the number manageable?
• Are there too many records to sift through? Not enough?

Quality

Example from Proquest

Examine the information displayed and determine:

• Authority - who is the author? (organisational affiliation, qualifications etc.)
• Currency - is it up to date? Does it need to be? Are recent developments covered?
• Is it a scholarly journal article?

Relevancy

Does the information suit your needs?

• Is the type of publication useful for your assignment?
• Is the information comprehensive enough?
• Does the information express a particular point of view?

Do you need to revise your search strategy?