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Social Development Library Guide: Search template

Social Development LibGuide

Search string template

The search template should be done with your librarian, who will demonstrate the ways in which you can apply the guide and demonstrate the practicality of applying it to a database

Detail the research question as precisely as possible

Research Question

Example: Women in music: gender roles in the music context within South Africa

 

Step 1: Identify variables of research question (PICO)

PICO Format

Population

Women in music within South africa

Intervention

Gender roles

Comparison

/

Outcome

/

Study/design

 /

You can use other variable formats to suit your research, alternate options are:

  1. PICOS

P

Population

I

Intervention

C

Comparison

O

Outcome

S

Study Style

  1. SPIDER

S

Sample

P/I

Phenomenon of Interest

D

Design

E

Evaluation

R

Research Type

 

Step 2: Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

(List criteria such as age groups, study designs, etc., to be included) [optional]

2010-present

Exclusion Criteria

(List criteria such as study designs, date limits, etc., to be excluded) [optional]

Step 3: Synonyms

South Africa

  • SA
  • RSA

Music

  • Performing art
  • Sound
  • musician

Gender

  • genderism
  • stereotype*
  • difference*
  • Role*

Women

  • Female*

Optional search term to add:

Step 5: Look at search strategy 

Search strategy:

Set 1 - (“South Africa” OR “SA” OR rsa)

AND

Set 2 – (music OR “performing art*” OR musician*)

AND

Set 3- (gender)

AND

Set 4 – (genderism OR stereotype* OR difference* OR role*)

AND

Set 5 – (women OR female)

Search string: Copy and paste search

(“South Africa” OR SA OR RSA) AND (“music OR “performing art*” OR musician*) AND gender AND (genderism OR stereotype* OR difference* OR role*) AND (women OR female)

Another option

Additional notes: Terms or subject matter of interest