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First, start with what you know about the topic already. Sit down with a piece of paper or use your computer to write down what you already know about your topic.
Now underline or highlight those words that seem to best express what you're interested in finding out about the topic and what will provide you some focus. These words may become the "right words," or what are called keywords, that you will use to research your topic.
Keywords provide the "keys" to open the door, so to speak, to the information that you're seeking..
I need to know more about my topic. Where do I look?Do some preliminary research on your topic in a general encyclopedia like Encyclopedia Britannica. There are other general encyclopedias in the C.O.D. Library. like Encyclopedia Americana or World Book.
Next, plan a trip to the Library to use the extensive collection of specialized encyclopedias. You'll be amazed at how helpful it will be to do some background reading on your topic in one of these encyclopedias before you plunge into the process of looking for sources like books, articles and Web sites.
As you're reading, write down or highlight those keywords that you think are going to help you locate information on your topic or that may help you focus your general idea or topic.
Don't forget to consult with your instructor or a librarian about your topic. If you can find an expert on the topic, all the better. These discussions can be very helpful in gathering keywords as well as helping you to solidify and focus your research project.
How can I find still more keywords?Use a dictionary (see the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary within the Encyclopedia Britannica Web site). Try a thesaurus.
As you learn more about your topic during your search for sources such as books and articles, you are likely to gather still more keywords that you will end up using in your research. You'll find that you will keep revising your keywords based on what you are able to locate with them.
My keywords aren't working. What do I do now?You may need to use more professional words. If you're looking for professional, expert, or scholarly information about your topic, slang words and everyday common language don't usually work.
In some computerized search systems, like the Library's Catalog for locating books and audiovisual material or some of the Library's article databases, it is often helpful to use what is called controlled vocabulary of the particular system. In fact, in many cases, if you don't use the controlled vocabulary, you won't find what you're looking for.
In the case of the Library Catalog, the controlled vocabulary is comprised of the subject headings that the Library uses to catalog or list materials by their main topics. (The actual list or book of subject headings is entitled Library of Congress Subject Headings which is held in the Library.)
EXAMPLES
| Common Term | Controlled Vocabulary |
|---|---|
| heart attack | myocardial infarction |
| Vietnam War | Vietnamese Conflict |
| cruelty to animals | animal welfare |
For some of the article databases, particularly the ones for locating professional or scholarly journals, there is a list of controlled vocabulary to locate what are called descriptors. Again, these descriptors are used to list the articles in the database by their main topics. This controlled vocabulary list is called a thesaurus (usually available online).
EXAMPLES
| Common Term | Controlled Vocabulary |
|---|---|
| child raising | child rearing |
| date rape | acquaintance rape |
| brain development | neural development |
