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Literature search: Block search

Overall guide for literature search

The use of block search

You can organise your search terms into thematic groups (blocks), covering the various keywords or concepts of your topic. It will create an overview of potential search terms and combine them into an effective search query.

Method of block search

Building your search query with blocks consist of the following parts:

  1. Formulate a literature search question

  2. Identify the main keywords/concepts

  3. Define your blocks (main concepts)

  4. Collect search terms for each block

  5. Combine the search terms

  6. Set up a search query

You need to use a search tool that understands search operators (AND/OR/NOT) i.e. a bibliographic database. The preferred way to do this is to use the different lines of the search interface - one line for each block. 

An alternative to using lines is to put each "line" within parentheses.

Example: using the block search method

Question: what is the effect of gender quota on the firm performance of companies?

Keywords: gender quota, firm performance, companies

Search terms:

keyword / block 1

  

keyword / block 2

  

keyword / block 3

gender quota

firm performance

company

OR

OR

OR

female quota

AND

profitability

AND

 firm

OR

OR

OR

women quota

growth

business

Search query:

(gender OR female OR women) AND quota*)) AND (performance* OR profitability OR growth) AND (compan* OR business* OR firm*)