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3.2: Adding to your Keywords

  • Page ID
    185966
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    Last week, you translated your research topic into keywords and brainstormed alternative keywords for your topic. This is the first step in creating and maintaining a keywords list for your research. Your keywords list is a living document! Part of the iterative research process is revisiting and adjusting your keywords list as you learn more about your topic.

    One way to add to your keywords list before you even start searching is to think about your existing knowledge and your knowledge gaps. Your existing knowledge is everything you already know to be true about your topic. Your knowledge gaps are what you don't know yet, but want to find out with your research.

    You should take some time to think about your existing knowledge and knowledge gaps before you start searching. You'll likely find that writing out what you already know and what you want to find out about your topic will help you identify even more keywords to search with.

    Watch this video to see librarian Justine go through the process of using existing knowledge and knowledge gaps to add to a list of keywords.


    3.2: Adding to your Keywords is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Clackamas Community College Library.