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Database Keyword Search Builder

Develop your research question and generate ready to use search terms for any library database step-by-step.

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Step 1: What?

The core topic of your research

What is the main subject or concept you want to research? Use a word or short phrase to describe your broad topic.
Example: social media, climate change, mental health
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Step 2: Why?

The angle, outcome, or effect you're investigating

Why does your topic matter for this paper? What outcome or relationship are you exploring?
Example: academic performance, mental health outcomes, policy change
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Step 3: Who?

The population or group your research focuses on

Who is your research about? This could be a demographic group, profession, or community.
Example: college students, healthcare workers, teenagers
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Step 4: Focused Topic

See your elements come together

Review your three elements and see how they form a research question. Go back to adjust any of them.
📋 Your Research Question
Example format: "How has [what] affected [why] among [who]?"
Or: "I am interested in how [what] impacts [why] in [who]."
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Step 5: Synonyms

Expand your search with alternative terms

Different authors use different words! Adding synonyms improves your results. Enter up to 2 alternatives per concept — or leave blank if none apply.
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Step 6: Your Search Terms

Ready-to-paste queries for library databases

📋 Research Question

📚 Getting Started with NSU Databases

Access these through library.nova.edu with your SharkLink credentials.

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Multiple Search Boxes (e.g. EBSCOhost, Academic Search Complete)

Enter each row in a separate search box — use AND between boxes.

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Single Search Box (e.g. Google Scholar, PubMed)

Paste this entire string into one search box.