BLY 436: Animal Physiology

Finding the right keywords or keyword phrases is one of the most important parts of the research process, and it can save you a lot of time as you work on your lab reports.

Here's how to think about it:

• Break down your research question. A research question in a scientific paper isn't a natural language question. It's a statement made up of specific concepts. For example, if you're exploring the question, "How does seasonal reproduction affect thyroid hormones in the hypothalamus?" the key concepts are seasonal reproduction, thyroid hormones, and hypothalamus. These are your keywords.

• Start simple and be ready to adapt. You will use these keywords to search databases like Google Scholar or PubMed for articles you need for your lab reports. Don't be discouraged if your first search doesn't find what you need. Finding keywords is all about refining your search.
• Refine your search. If you find too many articles, try using more specific (or "narrower") keywords. If you aren't finding enough, try using broader keywords or thinking of synonyms and related terms. This flexibility will help you find the right sources.

Example topic: How do thyroid hormones in the hypothalamus affect seasonal reproduction?

Step 1: Identify keywords.

Step 2: Identify synonyms.

Step 3: Identify related terms by thinking of both broader and narrower ideas.