Before you begin searching, you will need to identify key concepts and terms related to your topic. These key concepts and terms are often referred to as "keywords." Creating a list of keywords related to your research question will help you find resources efficiently and effectively.
Review the following examples and breakdown your research question into keywords:
|
Research Question |
Keywords |
Tip |
|---|---|---|
|
What are the causes of homelessness in America? |
Homelessness America |
Don’t use “soft words” like: cause effect impact benefits |
|
How has rising college tuition impacted students? |
College Tuition Students |
You may start to discover new terms and phrases: “Tuition increase” “Tuition hike” “College costs” “Graduation rates” Put phrases in “quotations”. |
|
Do cell phones cause brain cancer? |
“Cell phones” “Brain Cancer” |
Think of synonyms: “mobile phone” “smart phone” “cellular phone” … And broad terms Cancer |
|
How does the WWF gain support for programming? |
WWF Programming |
Spell out acronyms to ensure accuracy: “World Wildlife Fund” (not to be confused with) “World Wrestling Federation” |