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ECON 481-16 Comparative Economic Systems

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How do I structure a keyword search?

Taking a few minutes to think about and identify some keywords before starting your search will help you search more efficiently, which will save you time (and frustration).

  • Underline main concepts from your research question
  • In each column write down: synonyms, alternate spellings, related concepts 
  • As you research write down new terms you learn or identify as you are searching.
    • Cross off terms that are not effective. 

Example research question: How do prison gangs govern and control illicit markets within correctional facilities, and what impact does this have on the broader criminal economy?

(Identify the keywords in this research question)

 

Prison Gangs govern markets  impacts Economy
alliances control  contraband effects enterprise
  rule trading influence  
  be in charge of trafficking    
  own pipeline    
Tips Examples
Use keywords, not long search phrases

 

Instead of searching for "How do prison gangs enforce rules within prisons?

break down your search into the main keywords:

Prison gangs, enforce, rules

To get more focused results:

Use quotation marks (" ") to keep phrases together

Use AND to combine different keywords

 "prison gangs" AND rules

To get broader results:

Use OR to combine similar/associated keywords

Truncate words that have a                          variety of endings with a *

"prison gangs" AND (rules OR control OR enforce) AND "flow of contraband"

 

enforc* = enforced, enforces, enforcement, enforcing
Look for ways to limit your search in the database You can often limit by type of article (scholarly and peer-reviewed) & year of publication