University of Portsmouth Library FAQs

Below are some top tips to help you when searching for information for an assignment:

1. Consider your keywords

• break your topic down in into its basic concepts
• think of all the variations and related terms you can (an ongoing process)
• use keywords from articles and conference papers you find
• see the Keywords Library Guide for more details and an example
• don’t forget that the reference lists of papers you’re finding may give other clues

2. Use good resources

• EBSCO Discovery searches vast swathes of Library databases
• There is also a guide to using the Discovery service 
• use the Advanced search to develop detailed searches that hone in what you want
• remember that not all Library resources are in Discovery so check out your Subject Page as well 
• also consider using Google Scholar. Off campus it can link to full text by following the instructions in this Library Guide 

3. Further tips

• keep notes of what you search and where you search so you can retrace steps if needed
• make a note of the bibliographic references as you go rather than searching again later
• keep your keywords under review as you work; they may change and develop

Contact us for further help

Ask a member of staff in the Library 

email: library@port.ac.uk

24/7 chat via our website or using the button on the right of this screen