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EMPOWER - Module 3 - Building Search Strategies

Brainstorm

Finding sources usually requires:

  • Multiple search attempts
  • Looking in multiple places
  • Considering sub-topics within your research question

Before search, brainstorm several keywords to save you time and effort!

 

Keyword Brainstorming Methods:

  • List
  • Outline
  • Mind Map
  • Discussion

Table providing examples of different types of keywords: There are many types of Keywords to choose from.  You could search for Narrower or Broader Terms that reflect different scopes of a topic.  For example, if you were searching about the Military, you could also search for narrower keywords, like Navy and Officers.  You could search for additional Synonyms of Keywords.  Garbage, Trash, Waste, and Detritus all have similar definitions and may produce additional search results.  Search for common spelling variations of Keywords.   Healthcare (one word) and Health Care (two words) produce completely different search results.  Searching for Organize (with a -z) will also produce different results than searching for Organise (with a -s).  Consider searching for slang terms like Earworm, Glamping, and Binge-watching.  This is an especially appropriate strategy if searching in popular sources like newspapers.  Brainstorm and search for possible Regional Words.  For example, Soda, Pop, Coke, and Tonic all have similar meanings in different regions.  Search for jargon, especially for topics surrounding certain fields or industries.  For example, in Medicine many diseases are named after people, like Turner Syndrome, in addition to their scientific names.  Finally, search with different Keywords depending on what types of sources you are looking for.  For example, if you were searching about Penguins, it would be beneficial to conduct one magazine article search using common keywords like "Little Blue Penguin" and another journal article search using scientific keywords like "Eudyptula minor".

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