Successful Keyword Searching: Initiating Research on Popular Topics Using Electronic Databases

Students are using electronic resources more than ever before to locate information for assignments. Without the proper search terms, results are incomplete, and students are frustrated. Using the keywords, key people, organizations, and web sites provided in this book, compiled from the most commonly used databases, students will be able to perform successful searches for 144 of the most popular research topics, on their own or in the classroom.

The 144 topics are divided into nine broad subject areas: Arts and Literature; Business, Communication, and Economics; Culture and Cultural Diversity; Health and Wellness; History, Political Science and Law; Philosophy and Religion; Science and Technology; Social Issues and Sociology; and Sports and Recreational Interests. Each topic section provides an extended list of keywords to be used alone or in combination with other words in the section to perform Boolean searches. The selected lists of key people include activists, artists, entertainers, politicians, scientists, and other well-known personalities in each field. Organizations and web sites lead the student to even more resources, providing a solid overview of each topic for the beginning researcher, as well as increasing general on-line searching skills.