Getting stuck with your search? Not finding what you need? This is a common problem with researchers. Chances are there are plenty of good resources, but the search terms that you are using just aren’t getting you there.
A keyword search is only as good as the search terms you use. To get good results, you must use a wide range of keywords, keyword combinations, and resources to find appropriate and rich information.
A graphic organizer can help you to generate a wide variety of search terms to get at the information you need. You can download a copy of this one to help you with your research.
For example, a student doing research on World War I can develop a wide range of useful search terms by asking the following questions:
- Is there a synonym for my search term? (war, warfare, battle, conflict, combat)
- Is there another way to say what I mean? (i.e., World War I, First World War or Great War?)
- Am I being too general? (World War I rather than Vimy Ridge)
- Am I being too specific? (Canadian soldiers’ life in the trenches, rather than trench warfare)
- Are there other ways to search for this?
- People associated with the topic? (Billy Bishop)
- Places associated with the topic? (Passchendaele)
- Events that are part of the larger topic? (Signing of the Armistice)
- Ideas or themes? (Ethics of using poison gas in war)
