Choosing Keywords

Choosing Keywords | Boolean Operators | Phrase Searching & Truncation

Earlier in the Plan step of the research process, you developed your research questions, and then learned about choosing your keywords Let's review.

Keywords are your "key" to successful searching. Choose keywords carefully. Keywords (or search terms) determine what you will find.

  1. Write down one of your research questions.
  2. Circle or list the important words. These will be your keywords. 
  3. For each keyword, think of possible synonyms (words that have similar meanings) or related words, and write them down.
  4. Be sure to spell correctly.

You will use these keywords (or search terms) to search for sources.

To learn more, watch this Using Keywords video.

Using Keywords video thumbnail

 

Next => Once you have chosen your keywords, it is time to combine them using Boolean operators.