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Biology 101 - Kay: Keywords

This guide provides research strategies and recommended resources for research in Biology 101 with Prof. Matthew Kay

Identifying Keywords

Keywords are the words you type into a search box to search for information on your topic. The words you use to describe your topic may be different from the words used by scholars. For example, a scientist researching probiotics might use the more specific scientific terms Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium.

Try conducting background research to identify scientific terms and other keywords related to your topic. Use Google or Wikipedia as a starting point, or use the following reference database (from off campus, you will be prompted to log in with your Pipeline username and password):

Using Keywords Strategically

Watch the video below for a short tutorial on using keywords. If you have trouble finding information on your topic, ask a librarian for help choosing the best keywords to use in your search.