Whether you are using the Internet or a library-based research tool, developing a list of keywords and phrases describing your topic is a good way to organize your thinking and increase the relevancy of your searches. Try these tips for adjusting keywords and refining your search results:
- Keep searches simple, especially when using library databases. Describe your topic using two or three basic keywords. If you don't get good results, remove a keyword or, try using a broader term. For example, instead of searching for information about a very specific town, village or parish, (e.g., Undredal (Norway), Tai'an Village (China), Monowi (Nebraska, USA), etc.), try using the broader search for locations, such as, "Norway and ethic*" or "Nebraska* and moral*." If there are too many results, you can add another keyword or two. A few other helpful terms:
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Social life and customs Religious life and customs Manners and customs Ethnology Anthropology National characteristics Cultural sociology Culture-Social aspects Sociology of culture Cross-cultural studies |
Representation (Philosophy) Culture-Social aspects AND [your concept] (Eg.: Culture-Social aspects AND asceticism) Culture-Social aspects AND [your country's name] (Eg.: Culture-Social aspects AND China) Culture-Social aspects AND the cultural group (Eg.: Culture-Social aspects AND Japanese) |
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Consider synonyms. Many words in the English language are used to refer to the same concept or idea. Others may have used terms or phrases that you haven't immediately thought of to describe your topic. For example, keywords such as, "race," "ethnicity," "ethnic group," and "minority group," may all be used to get after a similar idea.
- Use "official" subject headings and descriptors. When you are searching in a library database, take note of the ways in which librarians and indexers have described the books and articles that are most relevant to your topic. Once you figure out what these "official" terms and phrases are, immediately narrow your searches by using these linkages to limit your results to ONLY things that include your subject heading.