1. Identifying Keywords
Objective: Students will be able to identify keywords from a research question.
Jack, Tom, and Jess are studying in the public library.
Jack- Dang, I have a big research paper due tomorrow and I have no idea where to start…
Tom-What do you have to write it on?
Jack- How the internet has changed the way teenagers communicate.

2. Before beginning your search for information, you must determine which words in your research question are the most important. Keywords are used to find information on your question when searching library catalogs, article databases, web search engines, and book indexes.
Jess- Well, that’s easy! The first thing you need to do is look at the research question and pick out the most important words. You can use those keywords to find information in library catalogs, article databases, web search engines, and book indexes.

3. You must first start with an effective research question
You must first start with an effective research question. Then it is easy to identify the keywords in the question.
Tom- Well, he’s already got the question so it should be easy to find the keywords from here.
Jess- Yep.

4. Relationships AND (children OR stepchildren) AND “Blended Family”
These keywords are then connected together using Boolean operators to create search statements. These statements are then used to search library catalogs, article databases, and web search engines.
Example Search Statement:
Relationships AND (children OR stepchildren) AND “Blended Family”

5. Let’s look at some examples of effective research questions and the keywords found in each question and how you would use them to search for information. Keep in mind that verbs are usually not good keywords.
Jess- So let’s try and think of some good keywords. Remember though, that most of the time verbs don’t work as well.

6. Research Question: What effect did tomb robbers have on archaeological excavations of King Tut’s tomb? Keywords: tomb robbers, archaeological excavations, King Tut, tomb
Image from:
This particular picture is not royalty free. You will have to find another one or attribute it to National Geographic.
Tom- Oh I got one! What if I was assigned to do a paper on… let’s say tomb robbers and the effect they had on archaeological excavations of King Tut’s tomb?
Jess- Well the keywords would be tomb robbers, archaeological excavations, and King Tut’s tomb.
Jack- That’s actually a lot easier than I thought.
Example search using the keywords in SIRS database.

7. Research Question: What is the relationship between gender, race,
and class in a graphic novel?
Keywords: gender, race, class, graphic novel
Example search using some of the keywords in the Academic Search Premier database.
Jess- Here are a couple other examples of some research questions that already have the keywords taken out.
Image from:

8. changes, space shuttle, program, Columbia, disaster
Research Question: What changes were made to the space shuttle program following the Columbia disaster in 2003?
Keywords:
changes, space shuttle, program, Columbia, disaster
Example search using the keywords in Google.
Attribute picture to Wikipedia or get permission or find another one.

9. Different authors may use different terms to describe the same information. When searching, consider using synonyms or related words to describe your research question. This will expand your search.
Jack- Oh I get this, I’ll have this done in no time.
Jess- One more thing—remember that not everyone is going to word their research questions the same, and neither are all of the authors of books, articles, and websites going to use the same terminology. If you want to get more results try using synonyms or related words.
Tom- How would you find those?

10. Synonyms or related words to use when searching can be found in a variety of different places including thesaurus websites such as Visuwords and Thesaurus.com.
First screen capture (crop so it is legible) from to be automatically followed second screen with the mouse hovering over a circle of words.
Jess- Good question. Thesaurus websites are the most useful to me. Some good ones I have found are Visuwords and Thesaurus.com

11. You can also use Wikipedia or the index of a general encyclopedia such as World Book to find related words and phrases.
Example:
Keyword Phrase – “Global Warming”
Related Terms – Deforestation, Greenhouse Gases, Climate Change, Species Extinction
Crop screen capture to make article legible. Only the first paragraph of the article and the Wikipedia logo are necessary or put the Wikipedia on a separate page.
Jess- Wikipedia and the World Book encyclopedia are also some good sources to look for related words and synonyms.

12. Synonyms/Related Words Example
Research Question:
How has the internet changed the way teenagers communicate?
Keywords: Internet, Teenagers, Communicate
Keywords in Question
Internet
Teenagers
Communicate
Synonyms or Related Words
WWW
Teens
Relate
World Wide Web
Adolescents
Interact
The Web
Youth
Dialogue needs to include the fact that keywords are vital component of web design.
Jack- Okay, let’s go back to my question then. “How has the internet changed the way teenagers communicate?” The keywords should be internet, teenagers, and communicate, correct?
Jess- That’s exactly right. This picture actually shows you some of the synonyms/related you could use for searches too.
Example search using keywords and related words in Academic Search Premier.

13. Synonyms/Related Words Example
Research Question:
How do relationships between children in a blended family develop?
Keywords:
Relationships, Children, “Blended Family”
Keyword in Question
Relationships
Children
Blended Family
Synonyms/
Related Words
bonds
Step children
Step family
connections
Step siblings
Example search using keywords and related words in Google.

14. Summing Up
Keywords represent the important ideas found in your research question.
You can use keywords to find information about your research question by searching:
search engines
article databases
library catalogs
It is also important to identify synonyms or related words to search because different authors may use different terms.
Tom- So let me see if I got this right—keywords are the important ideas from our question, then you use those words in a search statement to enter into search engines, article databases, and library catalogs.
Jess- Right, and don’t forget to use synonyms to broaden your searches. Different authors could use different terms.