For some of you, the information on this page will be a review of information you have heard before, perhaps many times. If it is new, the information can help you search for information more effectively and efficiently so take the time to read it carefully.
Keywords are words or phrases that describe your research topic. They are used to search for information in the catalog or in databases. When searching for information, you want to employ a variety of search terms because there are multiple ways of describing the same topic.
Start with a question that summarizes and focuses your research topic and identify key concepts associated with the question. Then, generate a list of synonomys and related terms.
Example: "What methods are used in intercultural communication courses at a postsecondary level and how effective are they in teaching students to communicate accross cultural barriers?"
Idenfity synonyms, broader, and narrower terms for key concepts.
| Intercultural communication | postsecondary education | effective |
| cultural communication | college education | student success |
| slang | university education | successful communication |
| body language | higher education | |
| Communication barriers | adult education |
Using a truncation symbol allows you to search for alternative word endings.
For example, communicat* searches communicate, communicates, communicating and communication at the same time.
The truncation symbol is often the asterisk. However, some databases use other symbols. Use the help option in the database or ask a librarian to check on which symbol to use.
Using a wildcard symbol allows you to search for alternative spellings within a word.
Wildcards can replace one character. For example, wom?n searches women and woman.
A different symbol may be used to replace more than one letter or to accommodate spellings where a character may or may not be present. For example, colo#r searches color or colour.
ESCOhost databases use the wildcard symbols above. Other databases may use different symbols. Use the help option in the database or ask a librarian to check on which symbol to use.
Boolean operators or connectors are tools that allow you to narrow or broaden your search.
AND
Using AND between your search terms will narrow your search. For example, searching intercultural communication AND college students will find resources with both terms, giving you more specific results. You can keep adding terms with AND to conduct more narrow searches: intercultural communication AND college students AND student success AND international travel.
OR
Using OR between your search terms will broaden your search. The OR operator is useful when a term has a frequently used synonym. Examples: intercultural communiation OR cross-cultural communication; college OR university. Conducting a search using the OR operator will find resources with either term, giving more results.
NOT
Using NOT between your search terms will narrow your search. NOT allows you to exclude a word or phrase from your search. For example, intercultural communication NOT business will find resources on intercultural communication but exclude information about businesses teaching intercultural communication or intercultural communication for business.
