ENG152: Database Searching: Home

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Pre-Research

Explore your topic in a library database like Opposing Viewpoints. Use their Browse Issues tool if you need help choosing a research topic. Each topic has a summary, which is a good place to learn more about the topic and find keywords.

Doing some pre-research is important because:

• You'll find out if enough information exists about your topic for you to do thorough research
• It will help you refine your topic or lead you to a new aspect of it to explore

Keywords

Keywords are the words you use to find information on your topic. When you search databases, use specific keywords instead of questions.

   "standardized tests" AND "college students"

   what are the benefits of college students taking standardized tests

Types of Keywords:

• Related: synonyms or similar terms 
• Broad: more general categories 
• Narrow: specific examples

The Research Process

1. Identify your information need
2. Pre-research
3. Create a research statement or question
4. Develop a search strategy. Where will you look for information? This will depend on your information need.
5. Locate information
6. Evaluate sources
7. Revise search, find more sources, and evaluate
8. Answer question and cite sources

Joshua Vossler's video "Selecting and Using Keywords"

Research Tip: If you're researching the topic videogame violence as discussed in the video, a site like this one from Statista would be great to supplement your research.