Unlike search engines like Google Scholar, databases need precise keywords for accurate results. Here’s how to find the right ones.
The first step is to break down your research question into its core concepts. These are the key ideas that define what your topic is about. For example, imagine your assignment asks you to answer the following question in your paper:
This question contains three distinct concepts:
Next, create a simple table to organize your concepts, placing each concept in its own column. Then, for each concept, list synonyms and related terms in the corresponding column.
| CONCEPT 1 violent video games |
CONCEPT 2 aggressive behavior |
CONCEPT 3 teenagers |
|---|---|---|
| violent computer games video game violence shooter games fighting games video game violence |
aggression antisocial behavior confrontational behavior hostile behavior behavioral problems |
adolescents |
Using a variety of search terms with similar meanings for each concept helps ensure you don’t overlook relevant sources simply because you didn’t use the exact search terms.
Tips for picking the right terms
If you're not familiar with your topic, it can be challenging to come up with synonyms. Here are some strategies to help you identify effective search terms:
@Dutch students: if your search terms are in Dutch, be sure to translate them into English. Most library databases use English as the search language.
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