Gradaute Research Help
Related Guides
Find A Subject Guide
Subject Librarians
Getting Research Help
Book an Appointment
Get lengthier and more specialized research help with our book an appointment service.
Visit our Research Help Desk
Visit the Research Help Desk on the main floor of the Library for help.
Attend a Workshop
Workshops are scheduled throughout the term.
Online Guides and Videos
How-to guides and videos on writing, research and citation
Searching with Keywords
Keywords & Synonyms
1. Keywords are the most important words in your topic
-
Is the petroleum industry contributing to climate change in Canada?
= Petroleum industry
= Climate change
= Canada
2. Also think of other words or phrases related to your topic (Synonyms).
-
Climate change = global warming
-
Petroleum = oil
*A concept map can help you come up with related terms to your topic
3. Search again and again using different keywords!
4. Use the limiters available like “Peer Reviewed” or “Date Range”
Keyword Search Example:
Keyword Searching From Seneca Libraries (Open Captions)
Example:
Research Question: What are the effects of rising oil prices on the economy of Canada?
| Keyword 1: Oil prices | Synonyms: Gas, gasoline, petroleum, fossil fuels, cost, expenses |
| Keyword 2: Economy | Synonyms: Economic impact, financial impact |
| Keyword 3: Canada |
Synonyms: There is no synonym for Canada, but you could narrow your topic to a province like Alberta |
Try It:
Research Question: "What motivates University students to complete online coursework?"
| Keyword 1 | Synonyms |
| Keyword 2 | Synonyms |
| Keyword 3 | Synonyms |
Advanced Search Techniques
Two word term or phrase searching "..."
When you have a two word keyword (like First Nations or Social Media) use quotation marks around the two words - "Social Media". This keeps the two words together in your search results. Otherwise you might get results that look for the two words separately and not sequentially.
Limiters are your friend!
Search Engines like the Library's Search Everything and our various subject databases have limiters on the search page and the results page. Limiters will allow you to limit your results to the type of resources (books, peer reviewed, newspapers etc), the publication date range, the subject area and the language of the resource, just to name a few. Always check out the limiters when searching.
Let's try some searches
Let's say you have a research essay on the benefits of exercise for older adults.
Type the following keywords into the Search Everything Box below:
- "Older adults" exercise benefits
Next try the same search using synonyms for the keywords:
- "Elderly adults" "physical fitness" outcome
1. Was there a difference in titles ?
2. Were they still on the same topic? The benefits of exercise for older adults?