Prof. Dziuban - Eng. 101 - FALL 2024 : Develop a Search Strategy / Databases

Search Strategies: using keywords, synonyms / related concepts and truncation:

Relevant keywords are necessary for effective research. You can start by taking keywords from your thesis statement or research question.

There are other ways to develop additional keywords.

1. Use synonyms and related concepts: 

• When you do a search using the databases, look at the subject terms of the articles that appear in your search results. Can use any of those?
• Think of synonyms for your keywords.
  • Examples:
    • social media OR social networking
    • Facebook OR Tiktok
    • women OR girls
    • self image OR self esteem

2. Use truncation:

You can broaden your search results by typing an asterisk symbol  *  at end of the root of a word. When you do this, the database will search for alternative endings for the word you have typed. 

For example, 

        Typing soci* will yield results for 

              social(s)    socialize(d)    socialization    society    societal    sociology