REL 345 The Reformation: 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. Keep your research organized (for example, keep a list of search terms you've used or have not yet used)

Example topic: Do video games make teenagers more violent?

Sample search 1: Searching with a phrase based on research question

 Sample search 2: Searching by identifying keywords from research question

 Sample search 3: Searching using keywords from research question as well as using other related keywords

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)