1. Compiling a keyword list A guide for OBI students
Joanna Cooksey Academic Liaison Librarian

2. How to compile a keyword list
Remember that you can’t search databases using full sentences, so before you start searching, try and make a list of keywords and phrases that you can use as search terms. Write these in your search plan. 1) Think about your topic Start with your essay or assignment title, or the topic you’re planning to research. Identify the key words that appear in this and write them in your search plan. Focus on the main themes of your topic and what questions you’re hoping to answer. Include any countries/places, authors, theorists, organizations, companies etc. that are relevant. 2) Think of alternatives Next, try and think of alternative terms/synonyms that might be used. For example…

3. Example keyword list #1
Imagine you have to write an essay about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Article 26 which states: You have decided to focus your essay on issues of gender inequality in higher education. This means that you have 3 themes: 1) gender 2) inequality 3) higher education. For each of these themes you could come up with lots of alternative terms:
Theme 1: Gender
Theme 2: Inequality
Theme 3: Higher Education
Women
Men
Equality
Human rights
Civil rights
Right to education
Discrimination
Sex discrimination
University
College
Education

4. Example keyword list #2
Your essay question is: "Should there be a total ban on smoking in the UK?" Again, you could say this has 3 main themes: 1) smoking 2) ban 3) UK. For each of these themes you could come up with lots of alternative terms. You could also think about related areas you might want to explore, for example: health, economy, advertising, sport, effects on children, comparison with the situation in other countries…
Theme 1: Smoking
Theme 2: Ban
Theme 3: UK
Smokers
Cigarettes
Tobacco
tobacco firms
Law
Legislation
policy
Britain

5. Try this yourself - task
Research question:
How can people’s body language affect their success at work?
Can you identify 3 main themes in this research question?
Can you think of any alternative words or phrases associated with each theme?
Theme 1: Body language
Theme 2: ?
Theme 3: ?
Eye contact

6. Try this yourself – task suggestions
Research question:
How can people’s body language affect their success at work?
Can you identify 3 main themes in this research question?
Can you think of any alternative words or phrases associated with each theme?
Theme 1: Body language
Theme 2: work
Theme 3: success
Eye contact
facial expression
non-verbal communication
gestures
posture
interaction
Interpersonal communication
job
occupation
employment
career
office
interview
presentation
successful
achievement
performance
confidence
influence
power

7. Getting more ideas for your list
When you search on the Library catalogue for books, or on a database for journal articles, look out for any additional subject headings and keywords that seem relevant and add them to your keyword list.

8. For example
Library catalogue search
Academic Search Complete