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ENG 101 • English Composition [Donatini]: Session 2 • Search Strategies

Library resources and information supporting Dr. Donatini's ENG 101 class.

Identifying Keywords

Keywords are the most important words or concepts in your research topic or question.  Use these words as search terms when beginning research.


Tips for Identifying Keywords

Tips for selecting / identifying keywords for a search include:

  • Identify the most important 2 to 4 words or concepts from your research question or topic.
  • A quick way identify important words or concepts is to choose the most important nouns.
  • Develop a list of alternate words with the same or similar meaning.
  • Use a thesaurus, dictionary, research starter, article subject terms, Wikipedia, or conduct a google search to find additional terms.
  • Take time to identify what the words mean to you as a researcher.

Keywords & Databases

Databases will search for keywords in articles and return options to review. Sometimes the results support your search, other times they miss the mark.

Why? Keep in mind that:

  • Keywords are selected by users and most natural language options.
  • Subject terms are defined by individual databases.
  • Author keywords are supplied by article authors for their work.

When searching a database, these words are not always the same.

Keyword Activity:  Describe the photo

Take into consideration

  • What does this photograph depict (big picture)?
  • What is the most important item or idea in this photo?
  • What alternative words could you use to describe the photo?
  • How do the descriptors change with each photo?

EBSCO Boolean Operataors

Searching with Boolean Operators

Discover & Search, EBSCO Connect

Boolean logic defines logical relationships between terms in a search. The Boolean search operators are and, or and not. You can use these operators to create a very broad or very narrow search.

  • And combines search terms so that each search result contains all of the terms. For example, travel and Europe finds articles that contain both travel and Europe.
  • Or combines search terms so that each search result contains at least one of the terms. For example, college or university finds results that contain either college or university.
  • Not excludes terms so that each search result does not contain any of the terms that follow it. For example, television not cable finds results that contain television but not cable.

image of top five search strategies in EBSCO databases


EBSCO Information Services. (2023). Top 5 searching strategies handout. EBSCO Connect Promotional Materials. https://www.ebsco.com/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/Top-Five-Searching-Strategies-Handout.pdf

 

 

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