Creating Your Research Paper

Search Strategy Steps

• Define Your Research Question – Clearly outline your topic using frameworks like PICO (for clinical research) or concept mapping.

• Identify Key Terms & Synonyms – List important keywords, including variations and related terms.

• Use Boolean Operators – Combine search terms with AND, OR, NOT to refine results.

• Select Appropriate Databases – Choose sources from Walsh's A-Z Database List.

• Apply Filters & Limiters – Narrow results by date, study type, language, or peer-reviewed status.

• Search with Subject Headings – Use MeSH terms or database-specific controlled vocabulary for precision.

• Evaluate & Refine – Review initial results, adjust keywords, and refine searches for better accuracy.

Breaking down the steps: Examples

• Research topic

  •  technology and learning.

• Research Question

  • How can technology be used to improve learning for elementary school students?

• Identify Keywords

  • ​​​​​​​ technology, learning, elementary school.

• Find Synonyms

  • ​​​​​​​ education, teaching, K-4, “elementary students.”

• Use Boolean Operators – Connect keywords with:

  • AND to narrow results- technology AND education AND “elementary school"

  • OR to broaden search- education OR teaching

  • NOT to exclude irrelevant results- java NOT coffee

• Other limiters: 

  • Quotation Marks: Used to search for exact phrases 

    • Example: "elementary school"

  • Parentheses: Used to group terms 

    • Example: (education OR teaching) AND technology
• Asterisks: Used to bring back alternate spellings 
  • Example: Educat* will bring back results for educate, educated, education, educational, and educator

Publication Finder- Search the journals we have available at Walsh University. We offer access to full text print and electronic journals, books and media

A-Z Database List- Search the databases we have here at Walsh University. Locate a database by name, subject or type

• Stay Focused – Keep notes relevant to your research question.

• Organize Clearly – Use headings, bullet points, or categories.

• Summarize in Your Own Words – Avoid copying verbatim to strengthen understanding.

• Record Sources – Always track author names and publication details.

• Highlight Key Points – Use color coding or bold text for emphasis.

• Use Digital Tools – Apps like OneNote or Evernote can help.

• Review & Refine – Regularly update notes for clarity and relevance.

There's no "correct" way to take notes - use the system that works best for you.
Here are some examples:

Effective Note-Taking -  University of Reading 

Taking notes from Research Reading - University of Toronto

Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing - Purdue OWL