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:
texts AND teens AND driving
The AND is called a Boolean operator.
Another Boolean operator is OR, which you can use to link synonyms:
texts AND (teens OR adolescents) AND driving
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"
"distracted driving"
"traffic laws"
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:"racial bias"
Examples:
intitle:"food desert" site:.edu
intitle:food site:theatlantic.com
Use the asterisk to truncate words. Truncating means that you put an * at the end of the root word.
text -- looks only for the word text
text* -- looks for text, texts, texting
More examples:
environ* = environment, environmentally
adolescen* = adolescent, adolescence
teen* = teen, teens, teenagers
texts AND teens AND driving
text* AND teen* AND driving
(text* OR talk*) AND teen* AND driving
(text* OR talk*) AND ("cell phone" OR smartphone) AND teen* AND driving