chat loading...
Skip to Main Content

How Do I...?

A guide to help you get started with library research.

 

 

Topic Selection and Research Plan

Before starting searching for information, spend some time thinking about your topic and what information you need.

Ask yourself:

  • What do I know about my topic?

  • What do I want to know?

    • What is my topic? (Is my topic to narrow or too broad?)

    • What is my research question?

  • How will I find this information?

    • What words will I use when searching? (Think about synonyms and professional language that experts use)

    • What databases will I access to search?

 

Use these worksheets (below) to help you with planning our your research.

Remember your first search is never your last search. It often takes many different combinations of searching to get to the information you want. 

 

Research is not linear. You may have to revisit your topic and research question multiple times while doing your research.

Selecting choosing and using the most useful keywords can be challenging. These videos can help you with your brainstorming about keywords.

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Write out your research question. For example: "How does exercise affect the mental health of college students?"
  2. Pull out the most important words from your research question. exercise, mental health, and college students.
  3. Think of synonyms for these keywords.  Exercise: workout, fitness. College students: university students, post-secondary students.
  4. Think of broader keywords. Mental health: well-being. Broader keywords are helpful if you aren't getting enough results.
  5. Think of narrower keywords. Mental health: anxiety. Narrower keywords are helpful if you're getting too many results.
  6. Start searching a library database with your keywords. Remember to try out different keyword combinations to get the best search results.
  7. Collect additional keywords as you search.

from https://library.louisville.edu/research-diy/keywords

Once you have useful keywords, combine them with Boolean Operators to create a powerful search string.