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CTMD 5010 Teaching Mathematics: Middle School: Keyword Searching

Building an Effective Search

To build an effective search for a database it is best to use keywords instead of phrases.

A good strategy for building a keyword search is:

1. Develop a clear topic statement 

Topic:

 

2. Draw out the concepts from the topic statement

Main Concepts (Keywords) of Topic:

 

__________________________AND_________________________AND_______________________

 

3.  Create a list of synonyms for each of the principal concepts

       

Synonyms for Keyword 1:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Synonyms for Keyword 2:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Synonyms for Keyword 3:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.Conduct searches using the keywords and synonyms you have selected for a Boolean search (see window below)
 

       5.Add more synonyms to your list as you encounter them in your research

Keyword Worksheet

Advanced Keyword Searches

Advanced keyword searching uses three connectors:

AND    -restricts results; says each keyword MUST be present in each record

OR      -expands results; says keyword OR synonym(s) are in each record

NOT    -excludes keywords; says keyword(s) must NOT be in each record

This logic allows for detailed search strategies that may involve many keywords (synonyms)!

Keyword OR Synonym OR Synonym

AND

 

Keyword OR Synonym OR Synonym

 

AND

Keyword OR Synonym OR Synonym