Keywords are individual words or short phrases that represent the main ideas in your topic, thesis, or research question.
For example, entering the phrase "global warming" in the search box of a particular database will yield all records with the phrase "global warming" found in the abstract/summary of the article OR in the text of the article.
You may want to try different keywords (climate change for global warming) OR add keywords to your initial search to narrow your search results list. For example, you can adjust your search on "global warming" by using the following search strategies:
- ("global warming" OR "climate change")
- "global warming" and (crops or farming)
- "climate change" and food
As you read journal articles and other resources, you may find other keywords to use to help you locate the specific information you want for your assignment or paper.
If you need further assistance in locating articles, please connect with a librarian by text, 24/7 chat, appointment, phone, or in-person.
