RAMAT 110: Race Matters, First-Year Seminar

Once you have identified and clearly stated your research topic, you can begin to identify keywords to use during the research process. Keep in mind that you may need to revise your list of keywords as you learn more about your topic during the research process.

1. Select significant terms or phrases from your topic statement.

For example, consider the following research topic: "How do black farming practices address food deserts in urban areas?" The significant terms/phrases would include 'black', 'farming practices', and 'food deserts in urban areas'.

2. Consider synonyms.

When used as a racial identifier in the US, a common synonym for the term 'black' might be the phrase 'African American'; however, context is important here, as not all black people in the US identify as African Americans.

The phrase 'farming practices' might be synonymous with a variety of other phrases, such as 'agricultural methods' or 'cultivation techniques'. But, again, context matters; there are various types of farming and the appropriate synonyms will depend upon which type(s) you are researching.

3. Identify other related terms.

In addition to synonyms, it can be helpful to identify other terms related to your topic statement. For each of the significant terms you've identified, consider terms which are broader or narrower. For example the phrase "person of color" is broader than the term 'black'; the term 'Afro-Latino' is narrower than the term 'black'.

Keep in mind that if you are investigating an issue from a particular perspective, such as from an earlier point in history, it can be helpful to search for the terms used commonly during that time period (even if they are no longer used today). An example here might be the term 'negro', which is considered socially unacceptable today, but was commonly used in the US prior to the mid-twentieth century, when it was replaced by the term 'black'.

4. Update your list of keywords as you learn more.

As you conduct your research, you may come across new terms which you haven't seen in class or which are closely connected to your research topic. You may also find that some of the keywords you initially selected do not yield fruitful search results. By taking notes as you search and updating your list of keywords, you can become a more efficient and effective researcher.