English

1. Pick a topic
   • Choose something that interests you
2. Ask a Research Question
   • Define what you want to learn 
3. Identify Keywords 
   • Create sub questions from your research question (who, what, when, where, why) and pull keywords from those questions
4. Find synonyms 
5. Use Boolean Operators

For more information on the research process check out our research guide: Creating Your Research Paper

Search terms are keywords or phrases used in databases and search engines to find relevant information on a topic. Choosing the right search terms improves the accuracy and quality of research results. 

What are Boolean Operators? Boolean Operators connect your search terms 

Boolean Operators:

AND: Narrows results by including all terms 

OR: Expands results by using either term

NOT: Excludes certain terms

Stuck? Try using these other limiters in your search

Other limiters: 

Quotation Marks: Used to search for exact phrases 

• Example: "artificial intelligence"

Parentheses: Used to group terms 

• Example: (cats OR dogs) AND adoption

Asterisks: Used to bring back alternate spellings 

• Example: Educat* will bring back results for educate, educated, education, educational, and educator