Keywords (or search terms) are the words you use to search. They're what you enter into the search box of a search tool, such as Google or a Library database like ProQuest.
Databases such as the ones you will be using for your classes provide better results if you use three strategies for entering your keywords.
Separate words and phrases with the word AND, like this:
customer AND marketing AND Vancouver
The AND is called a Boolean operator.
Another Boolean operator is OR, which you can use to link synonyms:
customer AND marketing AND (Vancouver OR Portland)
Notice that when you use OR, you also use parenthesis around the words your connecting (that's important!)
Use quotation marks around common phrases. Quotation marks will keep your words "stuck" together.
"young adult"
"cell phone"
"customer segment"
"Portland metro area"
You can search the open web more efficiently using the following strategies.
Limit your search to a specific domain type or website using site:
site:.gov
site:.edu
site:usnews.com
Find websites that have your search terms in the title using intitle:
intitle:consumer
Examples:
intitle:"food desert" site:.gov
intitle:consumer site:pewresearch.org
Use the asterisk to truncate words. Truncating means that you put an * at the end of the root word.
community -- looks only for the word community
communit* -- looks for community, communities
More examples:
environment* = environment, environmentally
adolescen* = adolescent, adolescence
teen* = teen, teens, teenagers
customer AND marketing AND Vancouver
customer* AND market* AND Vancouver
customer* AND market* AND (Vancouver OR Portland)
"customer segment" AND market* AND (Vancouver OR Portland)