Generating keywords for an efficient search can be difficult. Follow these steps to break your research topic down into searchable terms:
Write down your research topic or question. Example: How do designated bike lanes affect traffic patterns?
Break it down into its main concepts. A focused research question will only have 2-4 main concepts. Example: bike lanes, traffic patterns.
Try to list at least 2 possible search terms for each main concept. These may be synonyms, broader terms, narrower terms, or scholarly terminology. Example: “bicycle lanes,” “bicycle commuting,” or “bike sharing systems” for bike lanes; “traffic operation,” or “traffic congestion” for traffic patterns.
Start searching by connecting your main concepts and keywords using Boolean operators.
Use OR to combine your main concept with its keywords. Example: (bike lanes OR bicycle lanes OR bicycle commuting OR bike sharing systems).
Use AND to tie your main concept/keyword strings together. Example: (bike lanes OR bicycle lanes OR bicycle commuting OR bike sharing systems) AND (traffic patterns OR traffic operation OR traffic congestion).
When applicable, use NOT to further specify a main concept or keyword by restricting terms from your search. Usually this operator isn't necessary. Example: (traffic patterns OR traffic operation OR traffic congestion) NOT (pedestrian traffic OR foot traffic).
