BIO 130: Microbiology

It is important to identify keywords before you search:

• Keywords are "key nouns" that describe your search
• Databases describe the content of an article using keywords (sometimes called subject headings)
• Keywords can be combined in order to focus your search on two or more topics (e.g., tuberculosis AND pneumonia)
• Databases do not respond to full sentences, only keywords

STEP 1: Write down your initial research question. 

STEP 2:  Ask questions about your question….OR, use a topic map.

STEP 3: Underline or circle the main ideas in each question. 

STEP 4: Identify the key nouns and brainstorm synonyms.  

STEP 5: Use some of these key nouns – keywords – in your search. 

STEP 6:  Read article titles and summaries.

STEP 7: Combine keywords with the word AND.  

STEP 8: Be persistent.