Anthropology 102 - Eisentraut: Keywords & Search Strategies

Like other scientists, archaeologists use theory and explanatory approaches to guide research.  Theories provide a structure for developing hypotheses, collecting and analyzing data, as well as making interpretations.

Some Common Theories and Approaches

• Migration approach
• Diffusion theory
• Processual approach
• Marxist theory (processual)
• Evolutionary perspective (processual)
• Cognitive archaeology
• Post-processual approach
• Structuralist approach (post-processual)
• Critical theory (post-processual)
• Neo-Marxist theory (post-processual)
• Agency/Practice theory
• Material engagement approach

Before searching for articles, think strategically and what words to use in your search. Try using searching terms in one of these ways:

• Search using OneSearch (which searches many Library databases at once), or using a specific Library database (see the Finding Sources page of this guide for links)
  • Use the name of the theory or approach you chose
  • Use the name of an author who is associated with a particular theory or approach (the course textbook has Further Reading lists at the end of each chapter that might give you some clues too)
• Search within specific journals devoted to your region of interest or theory/approach
  • Use the A-Z Periodicals find journals the Luria Library has access too
    • Use the full title of the journal if you know it (such as Latin American Antiquity)
    • Or search using the term archaeology to get a list of all the journals with that term in the title
  • Select "Online Availability" to get a link to the Library database that has the journal, then search within the journal using keywords related to the name of the theory or approach you chose

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 in the library catalog (OneSearch) and library databases. For example, another way to describe teenagers might be adolescents.

Watch the video below for a short tutorial on keywords, including some good strategies for combining them effectively. If you have trouble finding information on your topic, ask a librarian for help choosing successful keywords.