How to do Library Research

What are keywords?

Keywords are words that describe concepts or ideas in a research question. Many library databases rely on keywords to locate information. In your research, you will need to identify the keywords that describe your research question. Keywords are open to personal interpretation which is why searching for synonyms (similar words) may be necessary to find relevant content in the library databases. The example below highlights the keywords in the research question and provides possible synonyms.  

What are Boolean operators?

Boolean operators direct databases to combine or exclude keywords. The three main Boolean operators are AND, OR, NOT. 

AND will search for both keywords. AND is helpful when you need information about two or more topics in the same source.

OR will search for either keyword. OR is helpful when you have a broad topic that can be identified by more than one word.

NOT will exclude a keyword. NOT is helpful when you need information about a specific topic.

Why should you refine your search?

Refining (limiting or narrowing) your search can help you find more relevant information. Keyword searches will often produce thousands if not millions of results, which can make finding the most relevant items challenging. This video demonstrates how to use the source type, publication date, and subject limits to help "drill down" to more precise and relevant results. This strategy can be applied in many of the library's subscription databases.