The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wananga o WaikatoThe University of Waikato - Te Whare Wananga o Waikato

Waikato Information Skills Education

 
WISEINSTRUCTIONSSITE MAPGLOSSARYFEEDBACK CREDITS
Waikcookie logout image
Modules
Search Strategies
Learning outcomes
Analysing an assignment topic
Creating an initial search strategy
Brainstorming for keywords
Keyword searching
Keyword search tools
Boolean connector – AND
Boolean connector – OR
Boolean connector – NOT
Nesting
Truncation
Creating and using a search strategy
Using a subject link
Exercise

Brainstorming for keywords

The keywords identified in an assignment do not always pinpoint the specific information required. Keywords used in assignments may not be the ones used by writers. Word variations must be considered, to find alternative keywords.

The three keywords from the assignment can be brainstormed as:
online communication social
cyberspace
“world wide web”
www
internet		 communicate
“electronic mail”
email
e-lists		 socialise
socialize
“social relationships”
“social aspects”

The brainstorm includes the following:

• abbreviations
e.g. email

• plurals
e.g. social aspects

• acronyms
e.g. www

• spelling variations
e.g. socialise, socialize

• different endings of a root word
e.g. communicate, communication

• synonyms
e.g. internet, world wide web

This brainstorm identifies potential keywords to use. Before we can use these effectively, we need to understand how keyword searching works and explore different ways of using keywords.

Previous Next
COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL STATEMENT | ADDRESS | WEBMASTER              Click here to close window BACK TO TOP

The Library - Te Whare Pukapuka
The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wananga o Waikato
Last modified: Mon Jul 13 09:27:12 2009

Page Generated: Fri Mar 19 08:57:31 2010
URL: http://www.waikato.ac.nz/library/learning/wise/Module2/index8.shtml
This page has been reformatted for printing