Search terms are the words that you use in search engines like Kaluga. This can be just one word, but more often nowadays it will be a combination of words.

Tip: choose broad search terms

The determination of search terms is a time-consuming thing but very important. The search terms that you use largely define the amount and quality of your search results.

Possible search terms with the example What are the effects of the use of social media in higher education on the learning behavior of students? are: social media, higher education, learning behaviour, students.

Elaborate search terms

Next specify, for example, by using

•  synonyms
•  plural/singular
•  related terms
•  translations

Expand the search term collection

• Use the words from the question, assignment or case
• Use dictionaries and search for synonyms
• Read general texts about the subject and search for professional terms/jargon
• Search for related terms, for example in a thesaurus (glossary)
• Use mind mapping to brainstorm
• View the reference list from a useful source
• Look in reference lists for an author name that often occurs. Maybe that person is a specialist. Use the name as a search term.
• Wikipedia can be used for both synonyms, professional terms as reference lists

Organise search terms

Finally, you can organise and sort the search terms by using a mind map.