1. Creating a Keyword Search
Learn how to develop a good
keyword search.
Slideshow by Ian Murray Fraser

2. About keyword searching:
• a KW search asks the system to look for instances
of words in the text/bibliographic record.
• you can use a KW search in the library catalogue,
library databases, and even on Google.
• it’s important to think carefully about the words
you use and to develop a good search strategy.

3. Start with a question.
Should genetically
modified food be
labeled differently?

4. Good research questions:
• are interesting.
• can’t be answered with yes/no.
• aren’t too broad (e.g. what is politics?).
• aren’t too specific (e.g what are the socio-
economic aspects of physical handicaps on
Venezuelan single mothers who give birth in a leap year?).
• are supported by evidence in the literature.

5. Next, identify your keywords.
“genetically
modified food”
label*
“Should
be
ed differently?”

6. Tips and tricks for keywords:
• if applicable, use the asterisk (*) to truncate
your words. (e.g. bank*, gets you bank, banks, banking, etc.)
• always search for phrases in quotations (“…”).
(e.g. “public school”, “Domincan Republic”, “death penalty”, etc.)

7. Find synonyms.
“genetically modified food”
“genetically engineered food”
“GM food”
“genetically modified crops”
label*
packaging (or packag*)
identify (or identif*)
sticker
tag

8. Finding synonyms:
• using a variety of different words will help you
find more stuff.
• some words might throw your search off.
Having synonyms will help.
• the best synonyms will come from your own
brain. If you get stuck, use a thesaurus.

9. Using boolean language:
• AND… can be used to narrow your search.
(e.g. “animal testing” AND cruelty)
• OR… is used to broaden your search.
(e.g. police OR “law enforcement”)
• NOT… is used to narrow your search.
(e.g. dogs NOT “hot dogs”)

10. Surround your concepts with parentheses
“genetically modified food”
“genetically engineered food”
“GM food”
“genetically modified crops”
label*
packaging (or packag*)
identify (or identif*)
sticker
tag

11. Add your booleans.
“genetically modified food”
“genetically engineered food”
“GM food”
“genetically modified crops”
label*
packaging (or packag*)
identify (or identif*)
sticker
tag
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
AND

12. This gives you a good search.
( “genetically modified food” OR “GM food” )
AND
( label* OR packag* OR identif* )

13. Remember:
• try using different terms, see what happens.
• more ANDs mean fewer results.
• more ORs mean more results.
• keep track of what works and what doesn’t.

14. You are now able to create an
effective Keyword search.
See you next time…