This example shown in the image below is drawn from the opening paragraph of a reference article titled "Plastics" that from the encyclopedia titled "Achieving Sustainability: Visions, Principles, and Practices" The image points to stakeholders (Who), facts (What), issues (Why), and where the article addresses what's being done or proposed solutions (How).
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The starting keywords in the broad research question: How do cigarettes impact children's health? are: cigarettes AND children AND health
I would add a column with words for other things I want to know, such as laws, education, prevention, history, etc.
Use the "Advanced Search" to give you more control when you search.
Try different keywords from your keyword list to address the same concept:
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It depends...
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As shown in the image above, information is created, recorded, and distributed various different mediums at different times.
The event occurs and…
Within minutes or hours - you can find info on Social media platforms – such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, etc.
Good for: short personal reactions, opinion, announcements
Within hours, a day – you can find info in Newspapers, news sites, TV, Radio – such as cnn.com, BBC radio, New York Times, etc.
Good for: current or local info, facts, viewpoints, breaking news
Within a week to a month – you can find info in Magazines or Trade journals – such as Time, People Magazine, Wired, Education Week, etc.
Good for: summaries of info, some analysis for general public or specific profession
Within 6 to 8 months later and continuing – you can find info in Peer-Reviewed scholarly journals - such as like Nature, Journal of American Medical Association, etc.
Good for: deep analysis of specific topics in academic research
Within 1 year later and continuing – you can find info in Books and Films – such as non-fiction, biographies, documentaries, etc.
Good for: thorough, comparative coverage of a topic history, complexity
Within 2 years later and continuing – you can find info in Reference Sources – such as encyclopedias, textbooks, atlases, manuals, etc.
Good for: broad overviews, key issues, statistics, topic specialized vocabulary
Image source: all images here created by GRC librarians
Keywords are search terms related to your topic.
You use keywords to search library tools or the web. Keywords are search terms that describe the specific concepts or issues of your assignment theme and/or topic. Here are a few tips about using keywords:
Put phrases in quotes: "toxic waste."
Keywords have synonyms and related terms: for example:
For landfills, also try: "sanitary landfills" "waste management" "waste management industry" "waste disposal" "recycling" "municipal sold wastes" "solid waste disposal" "groundwater" and more.
Combine keywords with Boolean operators "AND" and "OR" to get more relevant results. Use "AND" to combine terms to focus your search (plastics AND recycling); use "OR" to combine terms and broaden your search (garbage OR waste).
Keep track of the keywords you find in your reference and other sources!
Tip: Look for suggested keywords at the ends of reference articles, in the "Related Terms," "Cross-References" and "See Also" sections.
Look for Subject terms in library databases. Subject Terms are the search words used to organize and help you find all the information on a subject.
Research is a process and your topic will evolve.
A topic map, also called a concept map, is a helpful way to start to identify:
Use the topic map linked below to map out your starting topic. Your research may address the entire map or you may focus on one area.
Consider: you may need to go narrower, go broader or slightly change your focus
Find more online research help in our How Do I guides.