Identifying Keywords-4


Keyword Searching

Before you start searching, think about what search terms are relevant to your topic:  What are your keywords

Use your class readings and notes to identify keywords.

For example, if you were searching for information about adaptations of marine organisms like giant kelp, some keywords might be:

  • Giant kelp, kelp forests
  • adaptation, change
  • Ocean, sea, marine, deep ocean
  • Climate change, warming, heat, acidification

Advanced Keyword Searching

Once you have identified relevant keywords for your topic, use these tricks to combine them for better search results.

To limit your results, use the AND

Boolean search using the keywords "kelp" AND "warming"

To expand your results, use the OR

Boolean search using the keywords "Giant kelp" OR "Kelp forests"

To search for an exact phrase, use "QUOTES"

Advanced search in OneSearch using the keywords "kelp," "forest" OR "giant," and "ocean warming"