Kinesiology Research Guide

How to Find Keywords:

1. Write Out Your Topic: Describe your topic in one or two sentences, or as a question.
2. Identify Main Concepts: Pick the most important 2–4 words or phrases from your description—these are your starting keywords.
3. Brainstorm Alternatives: Think of synonyms, related terms, or broader/narrower concepts for each keyword.
   • Use a thesaurus and subject headings in databases, or look at abstracts and titles for more ideas.
4. Mix and Match: Try different combinations of your keywords in the database to see what works best.

Where to Look for Keywords:

• Your Research Question or Topic Statement: Start here for the main ideas.
• Background Sources: As you do pre-research, note important terms and phrases that come up often.
• Database Subject Headings: Many library databases use official subject terms—look at these in relevant articles for more keyword ideas
• Article Titles and Abstracts: As you find sources, scan titles and summaries for additional keywords to try.

Example Research Question:

How does regular strength training affect balance in older adults?

Main Ideas:

strength training, balance, older adults