WRDS 1104 - Mahaffey

Library keywords are specific words or phrases used to categorize or describe books, articles, and other materials in a library's catalog or database. These keywords are designed to help you search for and find relevant materials on a particular topic or subject. 

1. Write out your research question.
   • How does social media affect the mental health of college students?
2. Pull out the most important words from your research question.
   • Social media, mental health, and college students.
3. Think of synonyms for these keywords.
   • Social media: online network, social network
   • College students: university students, post-secondary students, undergraduate.
4. Think of broader keywords. Broader keywords are helpful if you aren't getting enough results.
   • Mental health: well-being, student success
   • College students: young adults
5. Think of narrower keywords. Narrower keywords are helpful if you're getting too many results.
   • Social media: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit
   • Mental health: anxiety, depression, stress
6. Start searching the library search system or library databases with your keywords. Remember to try out different keyword combinations to get the best search results.

This video shows you how to develop keywords to find sources about your research topic.