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    • Academic Research Skills: Research Reconnaissance - Search Terms

    The purpose of this guide is to assist students in the building of strong research skills that result in quality research projects

    Resources to Consider

    © 2024

     

    Dictionary.Com - Free Online dictionary that not only gives the correct definition of words but their correct spelling as well

    Thesaurus.Com - Free online thesaurus that will help you find synonyms for the terms you have planned to use.

     

    ***Your VPCC Librarians can be contacted for any assistance you may need regarding your research. They are able to assist you with:

    • Determining what your topic of research
    • Appropriate keywords or terms to use for searches
    • Effective use of the library catalog and databases
    • Research Paper and Resource Citation Formatting
    • Popular vs. Scholarly/Peer-Reviewed Resources
    • Finding Resources outside of the library

    Keywords/Terms For Searches

    Copyright © 2024 Keyword Tool

     

    A key component of the research process is finding the right keyword or term to find what you want to research. It can be tricky sometimes, but with these simple hints, you can streamline the research process and ensure a more productive experience. Some factors to consider are:

    • Alternative terms/words or synonyms
    • Correct spelling of terms/words
    • Research Reconnaisance or What do I already know about my topic of research

    H & The 5Ws

    © WPMU DEV 2024

     

    The concept of "H & The 5Ws" is really simple. It is basically the How, Who, What, Where, When, and Why regarding your topic of research. Answering these questions will allow you to dig deeper into your brain and find more keywords/terms to use for searches that you may not realize you know at first. Specifically:

    HOW 

    • How does this topic work? How does it function? How does it do what it does?
    • How did it come to be?
    • How are those involved affected?
    • How does the topic develop over time?

    WHAT

    • What is your topic narrowed down in a simple phrase/sentence?
    • What does your topic involve? (i.e. What are the different parts to it?)
    • What is it similar to / different from?
    • What might be affected/changed by your topic?
    • Are there any laws, legislation, experiments, etc., that may be an integral part of my topic of research?
    • What is the full scope of my topic and are there any areas related to my topic that are connected to it?

    WHO

    • Who is involved?
    • Who is affected?
    • Who will benefit?
    • Who will be harmed?
    • This includes individuals AND groups such as businesses, governmental bodies, Etc.

    WHERE

    • Where does this take place? (Where did it …. Where will it … Where should it ….?)
    • Does it matter where it takes place? Is it affected by location?
    • Includes face-to-face as well as virtually

    WHEN

    • When does this take place? When did this take place? When will it take place? When should this take place?
    • Does when this takes place affect the topic?

    WHY

    • Why is this topic important? Why does it matter?
    • Why do certain things happen? (What are some causes and effects within the topic?)
    • Why did it become important when and where it did? 
    • Why is it important to me, and why should it be important to anyone?