Identifying Key Concepts & Brainstorming Keywords

From your list of research questions identify the key concepts. Then, brainstorm for alternative words and synonyms (keywords) for those key concepts. These are generally nouns. For example, let's use the following research question from the previous list.

  • Do gender roles affect Hispanic participation in higher education?
Key Concepts
 		 Keywords - Alternative Words/Synonyms
gender male, female, man, woman, feminis(m,t), machismo, masculin(e,ity), sex(uality)
Hispanic Latino, Latina, specific countries, (e.g. Cuban-Americans, Chicanos)
higher education colleg(e,es,iate,ian), universit(y,ies), postsecondary, post-secondary, post secondary, levels of higher education (e.g. community colleges)

Note that we've included variations of keywords such as plurals. Include any alternate spellings of words or abbreviations, too.

Your list of keywords will be what you use to search in library resources and the Internet for information to answer your research questions.
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