Discovering sources

Build your understanding

First, consider what you already know about the topic:

• Look at any scholarly literature you already have, as this may lead to further information. Most journal articles and books will provide you with references to earlier work. You can also find more recent work by seeing which journal articles have cited the scholarly literature you already have. Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar are useful tools for doing this.
• If you are researching a topic new to you, or need some specific information, you could consult a textbook covering the topic, or try quick reference tools. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and data books can provide definitions, summaries or specific information.

Find key sources quickly

If you only need a few reliable sources quickly:

• Use Library Search to find books, journal articles and other scholarly material.
• Think about keywords and phrases related to your topic.
• Use filters to focus your results.  For example, try limiting your search results to journal articles only or within a specific date range.

Go deeper with advanced searching

If you need to make a comprehensive and quality-assured search of the literature on a topic, use a bibliographic database.

A database allows you to search comprehensively across hundreds of quality-assured academic publications. The most common type of information you will find in a database is a journal article, but some databases also include book chapters, reports and other less common types of information.

Each subject has its own range of databases: explore your Subject Guide to see which databases are recommended for your subject. 

To focus your results use advanced search techniques such as:

• synonyms and related terms to broaden your search
• Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to connect your terms
• double quotation marks " " to search for a phrase (e.g. "University of Bristol")
• asterisk * to search for multiple endings (e.g. explor* finds explore, exploration, exploratory, exploring)

The Effective Research with Databases tutorial includes more detail and examples.

If you would like a more personal experience, the library runs regular sessions on finding sources which can be booked via our Bookable Workshops page.

If you are planning to use AI technology in your research, please read our guide on AI Discovery tools.

Reviewing your search

If you are not happy with your search results, don’t give up! A successful search is iterative and will often take several tries.  Remember these tips:

• The search process is part of learning more about your topic.
• Refine your search by adding new terms.
• Limit your results if you feel you have retrieved too many.
• Don't give up! Effective searching is iterative and often takes several attempts.

Always remember to look at the "Help" or "Search tips" pages offered by the particular database or search engine you are currently using.

If you are evaluating search results derived from AI tools, please read our guide on Evaluating AI.

Apply a decolonial lens

When searching for information, it’s important to consider whose voices and perspectives are represented and whose are missing. Applying a decolonial lens to your search ensures your research is more inclusive, balanced, and reflective of multiple viewpoints.

How can you address this?

• Critically evaluate what is considered “authoritative” or “credible.”
• Seek out sources from underrepresented voices, including community-based research, global majority scholarship, and alternative knowledge systems.
• Use strategies such as broadening your keywords, exploring regional databases, and consulting subject guides that highlight diverse perspectives.

Our Decolonising and the Library guide is a good place to find resources to broaden your search.

The library runs regular sessions on inclusive citation: tools and techniques for finding underrepresented voices which can be booked via our Bookable Workshops page.