Lists of search terms (3/8)

Another quick way to come up with search terms is to create a mind map. Take a sheet of paper, write down your topic in the middle, and note down all terms that you relate to this topic around it.*

Having created a mind map, you can proceed in a more structured way with the list of search terms. Consider the important aspects of your topic and search for general and specific terms, synonyms, translated terms, and related terms. With this list you can keep record of your search terms and combine them when searching in different search platforms (library catalogues, databases etc.). In chapter five of this course, we will provide more tips for managing your list of results based on the given search terms.

For a better understanding of individual search possibilities and strategies, we have selected the topic “The Use of Dialects in Social Media” as an example. A list of search terms on this topic is presented in the table on the right side of the page. A template for the table is also available for download.

* For more details on mind-mapping you can consult these guidelines compiled by the library of the University of Auckland.