Planning the search process
Always start with planning your search process but remember that you also need to be flexible and open to changing your plan as you gradually get new insights and new knowledge in your work.
Documenting searches
It is important to document your searches in a search log throughout the search process to help you keep track on where and how you have searched and to evaluate search tools and results. The search log is also an imporant document for you who have to present your searches e.g. in a literature review.
Presenting searches
Sometimes, for example if you are writing a literature review, you have to present where and how you have searched to find the sources that you use in your work. It is suitable to use some kind of template to enter search tools, search strings, filters etc.
Read about how you can present search strings with parentheses at the page Search tips - advanced search in this guide.
