Keywords are words or short phrases that unlock the information you need. Keywords are also called search terms.
Look first at your research question. It contains helpful ideas, words, and phrases.
Here is a sample research question as an example. This is NOT one of your choices; do NOT use it as your topic!
We need to find keywords or phrases -- the words and/or phrases that capture the essence the idea(s) in a research question.
Read the research question carefully. What clues can you find in the question - or topic - that will help you find MORE information about those ideas?
Look at some of these examples. Remember: These are not the questions for your project.
Sample question: Should there be a minimum basic income in the United States?
Keywords highlighted: Should there be a minimum basic income in the United States?
Sample question: Should corporations have the same rights as individual citizens?
Keywords highlighted: Should corporations have the same rights as individual citizens?
Sample question: Why are books and movies about vampires so popular?
Keywords highlighted: Why are books and movies about vampires so popular?
When it comes to search terms, having more choices is a good thing. [We'll talk about the benefits shortly.]
How do you find more search terms?
Generate more search in various ways.
Find synonyms or equivalent words that convey the same idea (or close enough). Example: If your research question includes the idea of college, consider adding colleges, university, universities, "higher education" to your list of search terms.
Spell out abbreviations and acronyms. Examples: If your research question includes the idea of FBI or DACA or FDA or US, it's important to add the spelled out versions to your list of search terms. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Food and Drug Administration, United States.
Add other forms of the same idea. Examples: If your research question includes the idea adolescents, add teens, teenagers, juveniles, etc. to your list of search terms. Another example: corporations > companies, industry, industries. Another example: income > salary, wages, pay.
Ask and answer the question: "what kind?"as it applies to the ideas in your research question.
Examples: If your research question asks about technology, add "social media" or Tik Tok or Facebook or cellphone and so on as appropriate to your search.
Are you able to limit your searching to a specific place such as one state in the United States? The state's name, such as "New York", is another good search term.
