Improving  Keyword Searches 

Most students, whether they search library catalogs, article databases, or Google, tend to use keyword searching.  There are two main reasons for that: a. keyword searches allow more flexibility in the terms you may use, and b. some search tools do not allow subject searches, or if they do, they can be poorly designed.

Since keyword is the type of search you'll be performing most of the time, here are some techniques that make this type of search the most efficient and effective:

The very first thing you need to do in a keyword search is identify the two or three most meaningful words that describe your research topic.

    Examples:

    Research topic: Did Tyrannosaurus Rex have feathers?
    Keywords: Tyrannosaurus Rex, feathers.

     Research topic:  Is there evidence that deficiency of vitamin D relates to depression?
    Keywords: vitamin D, depression