The concept map: Deciding on keywords for your search query

A concept map is useful to help you work out exactly what information you need. With a concept map you can decide on:

• concepts (key ideas) that define your topic
• keywords that would represent the concept
• which concepts and keywords to exclude
• relationships between the concepts, including relative importance (major/minor)
• depth of information you need
• how much information you need
• type of information you need

Let's look at how it works by using an example:

You are doing research on the apple (fruit) and want to look at common sayings it inspired and how the sayings came about.

Step 1: Decide what concepts (key ideas) are involved in your search query

In our example the main concept is Apple. But you want to know about a specific aspect of apples: Sayings. Even more specific is the story (or history) behind the sayings. So there are 3 concepts identified:

Apple - Sayings - History

Step 2: Decide on terms that represent the concepts - usually referred to as keywords

These keywords will be the search terms you use to search for the information. You may find it helpful to think about what words you expect to find on the web page that will give you the information you are looking for. You have already made a start by writing down the concepts in step 1. Our example is simple enough to have made a good start and we are ready to move on to the next step.

Step 3: Look at alternative terms that may be useful

Alternative keywords would include:

• plurals
• spelling variations
• variations in word endings
• broader terms
• narrower terms
• related and/or synonyms
• phrases

It is easier to do in a table like this:

Step 4: Combine these keywords to show the relationship between the concepts

You do this by using Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT. (Tip: When using Boolean operators it is best to write them in capital letters to distinguish them from normal words.) In our example we want all three concepts to be found in the web page, so our search query would look like this:

Apple AND Sayings AND History

We can indicate that on the concept map:

You usually combine the related terms with the Boolean operator OR:

Step 5: Think about other concepts that are associated with the terms you use which are not relevant to your topic.

In our example the term Apple is also associated with a computer company and its products. So we could structure our search query to exclude those web pages that contain the irrelevant information. We use the Boolean operator NOT to exclude terms:

Be careful when you exclude terms as you may cut out relevant results.

Using your terms to start a search

You now have a handy list of terms you could use for your search, including the ways you are going to combine them to get relevant results.

Always start with a simple search to see if you can get enough relevant results for your information needs. In this example we can start with a simple search such as:

Right click on Google

Enter: Apple AND sayings AND history NOT computer

Try that search and see whether you could find good results within the first 3 pages.

Often you would find a mix of relevant and irrelevant results. If you find enough relevant results you don't need to search any further. If you don't find enough relevant results you have to refine your search, using the terms from your concept map. Possible examples:

Apples AND sayings AND history NOT (computer OR iPod OR iPad OR iPhone)

Apples AND (sayings OR proverbs) AND history NOT (computer OR iPod OR iPad OR iPhone)

Don't forget to look for clues in your results for other keywords.

EXERCISE:

Choose two examples from the list below. Work out a concept map as described above and do the searches on Google to see how many relevant results you can get with the terms you chose.

1. How can renewable energy sources help reduce the effect humans have on global warming?
2. How were primates used in space travel?
3. Who wrote the poem about red poppies during the first World War? I need the words of the poem and information on the author as well.
4. How can I find out more about hip replacements - surgery, therapy and rehabilitation?

RESOURCES:

Internet Search Challenge

Expert Google Searching - video demonstrating Boolean searching on Google

The Boolean machine demonstrates visually the Boolean operators through the use of Venn diagrams

Massey University explained Boolean searching

Exercises:

Return to Search Strategies ...