MATH 399: Senior Seminar (HC) Fall 2025

Example

How can Bayesian modeling be used to assess cancer survival?

Step 1: Break up this research question into two or three main concepts.

• Concept #1: bayesian
• Concept #2: cancer
• Concept #3: survival

Step 2: Brainstorm synonyms, acronyms, and variant spellings.

• Concept #1: bayes*
• Concept #2: cancer, tumor
• Concept #3: survival, outcome, mortality, prognosis

• Even if the search engine you are using doesn't require you to enter boolean operators, it is still using them behind the scenes. It will help you to know the logic behind your search
  .
• AND gives you results that include ALL of your concepts.
   
• OR gives you results that include ANY of your concepts.
  ​
• Essentially, you are searching:​

(Bayesian OR Bayes) AND (cancer OR tumor) AND (survival OR outcome OR prognosis)