ENGL 113 - DeNotto: Tips for Research

1. Keep your searches simple (at least at first)
2. Break down complex questions into different parts
3. Brainstorm different ways to describe what you are looking for (consider using Boolean operators to help)
4. Remember that research is an iterative process (do multiple searches with different combinations of terms and using different strategies)
5. Learn from your search results (there is no such thing as a "failed" search)
6. Use one source to help you find other sources (look at the bibliography, look for experts or other important people/names/concepts mentioned, what keywords do they mention that I haven't used?)
7. Keep your research organized (for example, keep a list of search terms you've used or have not yet used)

Example Research Topic: 
How does Internet addiction affect one’s health and well-being?

Search Example 1: general keywords from topic

Search Example 2: more specific than Example 1, but still related terms

Search Example 3: less specific than Example 1 or 2, but still related terms

Search Example 4: Boolean Operator Bonanza

Search Example 5: a different, but related idea

Search Example 6: a different, but related idea

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 or research tool with your keywords. Remember to try out different keyword combinations to get the best search results.
7. Collect additional keywords as you search.

(https://library.louisville.edu/research-diy/keywords)

Example Keyword Search (these work for PRIMO Books, Media, Articles and other databases)

Gender war

military sex slavery

women Japanese

transnational adoption alternatively: international adoption or intercountry adoption

postwar Japan alternatively: "postwar Japan" "Japan postwar"

immigrants economy

Japan* servicemen

military service children

immigrant "entrepreneurs" AND America

family ethnic identity

parenting Korea

comfort women

Example Subject Search (these work only when searching PRIMO books and media):

World War, 1939-1945 -- Women

World War, 1939-1945 -- Japan

Intercountry adoption

Japan -- Politics and government -- 1926-1945

Japan -- History -- 1926-1945

Japanese Americans -- Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945

Japan -- Social life and customs

World War, 1939-1945 -- Social aspects -- Japan

War and society -- Japan -- History -- 20th century

World War, 1939-1945 -- Social aspects -- United States

Example Combined Keyword/Subject Search

World War, 1939-1945 (subject) AND

immigrants OR refugees

Generating Keywords

What is your Research Question?

What are the main concepts in your Research Question?

1.

2.

3.

What are some synonyms (or related terms) for those concepts and your topic?

Concept 1.

Concept 2.

Concept 3.

Work together with your partner to try to help each other generate other keywords.