Segment 1: Devise Search Strategy (10 minutes) Overview: In this segment, you will transform a research question into a search strategy in order to find journal articles in a database. The research question you will work with today is: "What ternary L12 precipitate phases have been synthesized in aluminum alloys?" Step 1: Identify keywords from the research question, and brainstorm synonyms for those keywords. ● Example: For the research question “Why are aluminum alloys containing L12 structures beneficial?” your table of keywords and synonyms might look like this: Keyword Synonym 1 Synonym 2 Synonym 3 aluminum metal alloys compounds blends composites L12 benefit strength advantage Use the table below to create your own list of keywords and synonyms for the research question "What ternary L12 precipitate phases have been synthesized in aluminum alloys?" Synonyms can also be broader or narrower terms (i.e. “aluminum” is a narrower term than “metals”). Keyword Synonym 1 Synonym 2 Synonym 3 Step 2: Use your keywords and synonyms to build a search strategy. **Tips** ● Use AND, OR, and NOT (also known as “Boolean Operators”) to link your concepts ● Use an asterisk (*) to cut off words if you want to search for all words with that root. For example, “develop*” would search for develop, developing, developed, development, developmental, etc. ● Put quotes around a phrase that you want the database to search as a phrase, rather than as individual words. ● Example: using the example keywords/synonyms table above, one search strategy might be: ○ aluminum AND alloy AND L12 AND (benefit OR advantage) Use this space to record your search strategy: Segment 2: Test and Revise Search Strategy (10 minutes) Overview: In this segment, you will enter the previous team’s search strategy into a database and evaluate the search results. Then you will revise the search strategy to get better results. Step 1: From the course guide, open the database called ProQuest Materials Science Collection. In ProQuest, click on the link for Advanced Search. Step 2: Scroll up to see the search strategy the previous group constructed. Enter their search strategy in the advanced search window and click “Search.” Step 3: Take a moment to scroll through the search results and evaluate their quality and relevance. Think about the following things: ● How many results are there? In your opinion, is this too many, too few, or just right? ● How many of the results relate to the research question? Only a few? About half? Most? ● Do most of the results leave out some part of the research question? For example, are the results about ternary aluminum alloy systems, but not specifically L12 phases? Use the box below to record your evaluation of the search results. Bullet points are fine. Step 4: Make a few changes to the previous group’s search strategy that you think will lead to improved results. Use this space to record your revised search strategy: Step 5: Go back to the advanced search page and enter your revised search strategy. Re‐evaluate the list of results. Are they better than last time? Worse? How so? Use the box below to record your evaluation of the new search results. Bullet points are fine. Segment 3: Source Selection (15 minutes) Overview: In this segment, you will choose one useful looking article from the previous team's search results, obtain a copy of it, and then evaluate its relevance. Step 1: Take a minute or two to look over the previous team’s search results. As a group, select one journal article you think is very relevant to the research question. Step 2: How can you get to the full text of this article? Link to full text right in database or using HuskyFetch? If using HuskyFetch, can you find it online, in print, or through InterLibrary Loan? Step 3: Write the citation for the article in the box below, in APA format APA format: Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), pages. Step 4: Summarize the article in 2‐3 sentences: Step 5: Say why you think this article is relevant to the research question. Bullet points are fine Segment 4: Explore Other Resources (20 minutes) Overview: In this segment, you will search in two additional resources, Google Scholar and science.gov. These databases are freely available to anyone, so you will be able to use them even after you leave Michigan Tech. Step 1: Look at a previous group’s search strategy (Segment 2, Step 4). Go to the MY4940 course guide and click the link for Google Scholar. Step 2: Once in Google Scholar, click the downward triangle in the search box to bring up the advanced search window. Run the search you identified in Step 1 in Google Scholar. Step 3: Just as you did for previous results lists, take a moment to scroll through the search results and evaluate their quality and relevance. Think about the following things: ● How many results are there? In your opinion, is this too many, too few, or just right? ● How many of the results relate to the research question? Only a few? About half? Most? ● Do most of the results leave out some part of the research question? For example, are the results about ternary aluminum alloy systems, but not specifically L12 phases? Use the box below to record your evaluation of the search results. Bullet points are fine. Step 4: Go to the MY4940 course guide and click the link for Science.gov Step 5: Using the search box on the homepage (or Advanced Search for more options), enter the same search strategy you used in Google Scholar. Step 6: Again, evaluate the quality and relevance of the results you find. Use the box below to record your evaluation of the search results. Bullet points are fine. Step 7: Compare the three resources you searched today (ProQuest Materials Science, Google Scholar, and science.gov.  Which was easiest to use?  Which gave you the highest quality, most relevant results?  Which would you be most likely to try first when you need to do research?