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Locate the Best Search Terms
- Put your research need in the form of a question
- It helps you better identify the information for which you are looking
- Example:
What are the most effective methods of improving the quality of cross-cultural communication in the workplace?
- Identify the main facets or key concepts of your research question
- It helps you get to the heart of your topic, and start identifying possible search terms
- Example:
communication / cross-cultural / workplace / improve
- Brainstorm keywords, phrases, concepts, etc. that further describe those facets or key concepts
- Because research databases often use different terminology than you might first consider,
it is helpful to think of alternate words so that you do not "hit a brick wall" as you begin the search process