Health Sciences Library Research Module

Getting Started : The Trial-and-Error Process

When beginning research on a new topic, one of the most important things to remember that database searching, more than anything else, is a trial-and-error exploratory process. As you search the databases, you may find that:

• Different search term combinations work better than others

• You may need to broaden or narrow your topic

• There's a gap in the published literature, requiring you to adjust your research topic accordingly 

This is completely normal! All researchers go through this process.

Remember: If you feel stuck or frustrated at any point in the search process, Sacred Heart librarians are here to help. We can assist with developing search strategies, identifying relevant databases, and refining your approach.