Electronic Search Strategies: Subject & Keyword

Electronic Search Strategies: Subject & Keyword

Keyword and Subject Searching are two useful ways to find information about a topic.

With most databases, there are two ways to search for items on a particular topic, keyword or subject. Both types of searching are important in the research process because they can get you to a wider range of information than just using one method. Check the tool you are using to see which choice is the default method. Choose the method that will work best for your needs.

A keyword search retrieves the search word(s) or phrases (see Exact Phrase Searching) from the title, abstract, and subject/descriptor. In the example below, the search terms

"new deal" and roosevelt

are pulled from the title and the abstract. The search screen for EBSCO databases defaults to keyword search. The subject search icon at the top of the search screen must be selected to do a subject search.

Check to see what type of searching your search tool selects as its default before you begin your search.

Most databases share usage techniques even though the interface looks different.