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XU.TUTOR

Defining the Question
Identifying Resources
Improving a Search
Evaluating Websites
Preventing Plagiarism
Understanding Copyright

 
 

 

 

   
  Improving a Search
   
 

8. Evaluating search results

Broaden your search to increase search results and narrow your search to decrease search results. Use the following table to estimate the appropriate number of documents for a substantial research project.

Results Action Strategies
Too few
(5 documents)
Broaden your search Use the OR operator
Use truncation
Just right the right number
(50 documents)
Review search results for appropriate materials 30 relevant documents should enable you to make a good start on your research project.
Too many
(200 documents)
Narrow your search Use the AND operator
Use the NOT operator
Use limits

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