Plan your search

Create your search plan

1, Identify the key concepts

Look for the major concepts and keywords in your assignment question. This may be enough for a basic search.

2, Think of other words for each concept

There may be synonyms or related terms for your concepts. Note down any related words alongside each concept. Put OR between the related words, and AND between each concept.

3, Use symbols to get better results

Put speech marks (" ") around two or more words to keep them together as an exact phrase.

Use * to stand for any letters at the end of a word, to get different variations.

4, Put it all together

Here’s an example search plan using keywords, related words, * and phrases:

(“sustainable energ*” OR “renewable energ*” OR “solar energ*”)

AND (health* OR well-being OR wellness OR fitness)

AND (“developing countr*” OR “lower-income countr*")

5, Come back to your plan if needed

If results are not what you expected, revisit the steps and adjust or fine-tune your approach.

Watch our video guide to plan your search

Use your plan to start searching

You can now enter your search into Discover and other databases. Most give you the option to use more than one search box, so you can put one concept in each box.

Discover also gives you the option to do a basic search using natural language. If you select this option, you can use ‘everyday’ language (e.g. type a question or a sentence) rather than having to enter keyword searches. After running your search, click on Show refined query to view the search strategy used. You can use this to build your own advanced search strategy.

Go to Discover basic search (including natural language option)

Go to Discover advanced search

Select another database to search in

Advanced search

If you are a researcher, you may need to use more advanced search options.

Read our guide to advanced searching 

Ask a librarian about search planning

We're here if you need help making a search plan. Ask a librarian at a service point in your campus library, make an appointment online, phone or email.

Auckland campus library

Hours: Get library opening hours information
Email: Library@massey.ac.nz
Free phone inside New Zealand: 0800 468 542
Phone outside New Zealand: +64 6 951 6399
Location: Postal address
Library
Private Bag 102904
North Shore Mail Centre
Auckland 0745
Physical address
Library
Gate 1, East Precinct
Albany Expressway (SH17)
Albany
Auckland 0632

Manawatū campus library, Palmerston North

Hours: Get library hours information
Email: Library@massey.ac.nz
Free phone inside New Zealand: 0800 468 542
Phone outside New Zealand: +64 6 951 6399
Location: Postal address
Private Bag 11054
Palmerston North 4442
Physical address
Tennent Drive
Palmerston North 4410

Wellington campus library

Hours: Get library hours information
Email: Library@massey.ac.nz
Free phone inside New Zealand: 0800 468 542
Phone outside New Zealand: +64 6 951 6399
Location: Postal address
Massey University Library
Private Bag 756
Wellington 6140

Physical address
Massey University Library
Block 5
63 Wallace Street
Wellington 6021

Online and distance contacts

Hours: Get library hours information
Email: Library@massey.ac.nz
Free phone inside New Zealand: 0800 468 542
Phone outside New Zealand: +64 6 951 6399

Planning your search , Te whakarite rapunga

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