After completing this module, you should be able to -
Define a specific research topic and determine the nature and extent of the information needed for it, including:
choosing a topic, identifying amount and type of information needed; exploring general sources to increase topic familiarity; developing a thesis statement; identifying key concepts and terms; and constructing a research plan.
Learn how to develop and implement an initial search strategy appropriate for a specific research need, including:
selecting most appropriate retrieval systems; putting together keywords in a search strategy; and narrowing and/or broadening search as needed.
Keywords are the main ideas or concepts of your topic question. Keep a list of these words because you will use them when searching for information on your topic. You will also want to come up with related terms in order to expand your searching.
Example topic question: What are the causes of anxiety in children?
|
Keywords |
causes |
anxiety |
children |
|
Related terms |
agents origin producers |
fear panic stress |
boys / girls kids preteens |
When searching, string your keywords together with “and” rather than entering the entire research question. Mix and match terms depending on results.
Example: origin and stress and children
Remember: Once you start searching, you may need to modify your topic and/or keywords depending on your results!