Understanding the function as well as how to select and use of keywords for finding information on your topic are essential research skills. Dissecting your research question and breaking it down into its component parts is an easy way to identify keywords or concepts that can be used to create a search query. At times selecting keywords to retrieve information on your topic can be exacting; however, the use of synonyms in a search query can greatly improve your search results.
Research Tip: Identifying synonyms or alternative keywords can improve your ability to retrieve information on your topic.
Application Exercise: Using your research question as a touchstone, identify the appropriate keywords and synonyms that can be used in developing search queries to find information on your topic. Retain a copy of the completed exercise for yourself and download a second copy to D2L by [date].
Auraria Library. (2019 March 1). An intro to keywords [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJPnoiFPSFw&t=4s
Santigo Canyon College. (2017 February 22). Selecting and using keywords tutorial [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtgTfXeWwI0
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