This document provides instructions for generating keywords to effectively search databases on a topic. It explains that keywords sum up a topic in a few words but can be tricky to come up with. It recommends choosing a strong topic first and then removing common words from a research question or topic sentence to identify relevant nouns. Synonyms of these nouns should then be brainstormed. The best keywords should be combined using Boolean operators like AND and OR to search the database and locate relevant information while allowing for variations in terminology. The keywords may need to be refined if the topic changes during research.

1. How to Search in a Database
Generating Keywords

2. Databases can be searched using something
called keywords. This presentation will
show you how to come up with keywords.

3. Keywords sum up your topic in just a few
words, but coming up with them can be
tricky. Authors use different words to mean
the same thing. If you use the wrong words
when searching, you might find very little
on your topic. Use the right words and you
can locate much more on the subject!

4. Choosing a Topic
Creating keywords is easier if you have
a strong topic. If you have not
determined a specific topic yet, you
may want to look at encyclopedias,
professional association websites, or a
textbook on the subject.

5. Creating Keywords
To determine your keywords, take your
research question or a topic sentence and
take out the words like and, the, a, an, and,
etc. You can then remove verbs.
Your research question is:
Postsecondary education can have very
positive effects on income and employment.
Now you try! Answer on the next page.

6. When you are left with just nouns that
describe your topic, write these down.
Postsecondary education can have very
positive effects on income and employment.

7. Now brainstorm 2-3 other words that are
synonyms of the words left from your
research question or topic sentence.
Postsecondary
Education
College
University
Higher education
Income
Salary
Earnings
Benefits
Compensation
Employment
Occupation
Profession
Recruitment
Job

8. Choose the best words to search out of your
list. Consider taking words that are plural
and making them singular and always check
the spelling of the word. If you have a
phrase with more than one word, add
quotation marks around the phrase.
College, Higher Education
Salary, Income
Employment, Job

9. Next, combine different parts of your
topic with the Boolean operators AND
to find articles where the two ideas
intersect.
College
AND
Salary
AND
Employment

10. Put these keywords in to the database and
search. If you are not finding what you are
looking for, try one of your other synonyms
for a word. You can also separate similar
words with the Boolean Operator OR.
College OR Higher Education
AND
Salary OR Income
AND
Employment OR Job

11. During the research process, your topic may
develop and change in to something else. If
it does, go through this process again to
determine your keywords to reflect your
new topic.
If you have questions, Ask a Librarian!
Remember