Identifying Concepts and Generating Search Terms

The following steps are helpful when preparing for a keyword search:

• State your topic as specifically as possible.

Topic: The effect of carpet on indoor air quality in closed buildings.

• Identify the main concepts.



1. carpet
2. indoor air quality
3. closed buildings


• Make a list of significant keywords or phrases for each concept to use as search terms.



1. carpet
• carpeting
• carpets
• rug
2. indoor air quality
• IAQ
• indoor air pollution
3. closed buildings
• tight buildings
• sick buildings


• Type the keywords, combining them with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT).

• Simple search:

carpet AND indoor air quality AND closed buildings

• Complex search (using all the keywords):

(carpet OR carpeting OR carpets OR rug) AND ( indoor air quality OR IAQ OR indoor air pollution) AND (closed buildings OR tight buildings OR sick buildings)