A guide for developing a keyword search

1. Preparing a
Search Strategy

2. Identify your topic
Example Topic:
What is the danger of pesticide residue
on produce for the health of children?

3. Find your keywords
What is the danger of pesticide
residue on produce for the health of
children?
• KEYWORDS: dangers, pesticide
residue, produce, health, children

4. Analyze your keywords
What is the danger of pesticide residue on
produce for the health of children?
Look at all the possible variations of your keywords and think of new ones:
danger(s) pesticide(s) produce
hazards “pesticide fruit(s) children
illness residue” vegetable(s) health(y)
kids
food
New keyword concepts:
Environmental health
Pesticides in food
Organic

5. Find Subject Headings
Look in the library catalog or Library of Congress Subject Headings
for controlled vocabulary on your topic:
• Pesticides in food
• Pesticides--health aspects
• Children’s health
• Environmental health
• Organically grown foods

6. Make Keyword
Combinations
Use boolean logic to combine your keywords:
What is the danger of pesticide residue
on produce for the health of children?
danger or hazards or illness AND “pesticide residue” AND children or kids
health AND organic AND food or produce or fruits or vegetables

7. Search Tips
• avoid using phrase searching until you understand the database
• don’t do a subject search unless you know the subject headings
• start with a single word keyword search and see how you need to
narrow your search
• decide which keywords are essential for your search string
• don’t forget about plural, singular, spelling and other variations on
your search terms