A well-written research question may contain words or phrases that can be used as keywords in a computer search.
Look at these examples to see how keywords are chosen:
EXAMPLES:
Research Question: Should movies be censored?
Keywords: 1. movies 2.censorship (noun form of censored)
Research Question: Should teenagersbe punished as adults when they commit a crime?
Keywords: 1. teenagers 2.punishment (noun form of punished) 3. crime
Research Question: Is plagiarism a growing problem among students in university?
Keywords: 1.plagiarism 2. students 3. university
Similar terms and phrases
Remember: computers can only match the words you type in with what is available in the database, so it is important to have alternate keywords, in the form of similar terms. Having a selection of words to type in will give you a better chance of finding the results you want.
EXAMPLES:
- Research Question: Should movies be censored?
Keywords: Similar and related term/phrases:
movies > films, theaters, television, motion pictures
censored > censor, censorship, ban, "freedom of speech" - Research Question: Should teenagers be punished as adults?
Keywords: Similar and related terms/phrases:
teenagers > adolescents, youth, teens, juvenile, "juvenile delinquency"
punishment > prison, incarceration, detention, corrections, justice, law
crime > violence, misdemeanor, felony, criminal, offense - Research Question:Is plagiarism a growing problem among students in university?
Keywords: Similar and related terms/phrases:
plagiarism > cheating, academic integrity, intellectual property, copyright
students > undergraduates, graduates
university > college, postsecondary