Mastering the search for information for your degree final project - where should you start?

It's not just about finding information - it's about finding the right information. The temptation to turn to Google is enormous, but so is the risk of finding too much content that is not always reliable. The Library is a good starting point when searching for information, and you will find specialized academic resources in your field of study. 

The video SOS TFG y TFM on bachelor's and master's degree final projects presents some secrets for an effective and accurate search.

 

The key ideas

Here are the key points:

• Prepare for your search properly. Spend some time thinking about your keywords. For example, if you're interested in the effect of marketing campaigns, product prices, and consumer behaviour, you could select terms like "marketing", "campaign", "price", "consumer", and "consumer behaviour". Search in English for more results.
• Use search tips. There are a number of techniques that are useful for many academic information search engines. Use search operators (AND, OR, NOT and NEAR) to combine keywords and use an asterisk (*) to find derivatives of the same word and expand the results - if you enter child*, you will also find children and childhood.
• Example of a step-by-step search. Find out how to narrow 36,000 results down to eight using advanced search techniques. The demonstration takes place on one of the Library's most comprehensive academic information platforms, ProQuest Central.
• How to use the advanced search tool. Advanced search is available on many academic search engines. Selecting the specific field where you want to search for your keywords is a useful trick.
• Take a look at ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Find out about a platform available in the UOC Library containing doctoral theses, a type of content that provides you with reliable academic information where you can consult references related to the subject of your project.
• How to access platforms. Simply enter the name ProQuest Dissertations and Theses or ProQuest Central in the Library search engine or access it directly from Search the digital collection by field. You will need to log in with your Virtual Campus credentials in order to access it.
• Conclusions. It is essential to think carefully about your search terms and use strategies like the NEAR operator, the asterisk and quotation marks. Begin your search using Library resources such as ProQuest Dissertations and Theses and ProQuest Central to obtain high-quality results.

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