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Developing Research Skills: Create a Keyword Search Plan

The purpose of this guide is to introduce you to information literacy skills (superpowers) through the use of an existing research assignment so that you will feel more confident and equipped in college research activities.

Video Tutorial


When searching for sources in library databases, you will need to use specific search terms known as “keywords.” Picking the right keywords is an important part of the research process and can affect your search results. Source: University of Houston Libraries, 
https://libraries.uh.edu/research/guides/

Keyword Form

Brainstorm Search Keywords for your Research Topic

Instead of searching for information by entering lengthy sentences or research questions, you will have more success with keywords and phrases. This web based form will guide you through turning your sentence or question into useful and descriptive keywords to enter into a search box for a library database or a search engine. The following example topic will be used throughout the tips on the form: "What effect does violent media have on youth?"

View the video tutorial included on this guide page first, if you have not already done so. After you complete the form below, a search will be displayed that you can copy and paste into almost any search engine or library research database.

What is your topic?

Words and Phrases

Think about and input separate words or phrases that are the most important from the topic sentence or question you just entered. Eliminate unnecessary words, such as "a, and, the, or, was, in, have."

For example, with the hypothetical topic of "What effect does violent media have on youth?", you would enter: 1) effect, 2) violent media, 3) youth.




Identify Synonyms or Related Words

Brainstorm and enter 3 words or phrases that relate to (broader or more specific) or are synonyms of your 1st keyword or phrase.

Brainstorm and enter 3 words or phrases that relate to (broader or more specific) or are synonyms of your 2nd keyword or phrase.

Brainstorm and enter 3 words or phrases that relate to (broader or more specific) or are synonyms of your 3rd keyword or phrase.

Brainstorm and enter 3 words or phrases that relate to (broader or more specific) or are synonyms of your 4th keyword or phrase.

 

Results

Click on the copy button beneath the the Discovery Search text box or Google search text box to copy and paste this search string you created into any database or web search engine.

Subjects: Research Help

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