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Background Information
Search for encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, and more. Great for background material!
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new window Credo Reference is a general knowledge database providing articles, images, charts, maps and other materials on thousands of topics. With 750+ searchable, full-text titles, Credo Reference places particular emphasis on subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and reference handbooks. Also included are more than 1,100 short reference videos, more than 475,000 high-resolution art images, photographs, and maps across all subject areas.
Sociology - A Very Short Introduction
Identify Keywords
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?
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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!
- Generating Keywords WorksheetThis worksheet is here to save you time and help you find information through the power of keywords! Whether you are using Google or a library database, keywords help you find information.
This worksheet will help you to turn key concepts from your research question into keywords, and come up with some synonyms to more effectively search for the information you need.
This activity works best with a partner!