2. Research Guides

Music Education

Developing Keywords

  • Start with a broad topic 

  • Brainstorm keywords, phrases, and synonyms by adding context and thinking about narrow topics. 
    • Use word trees, brainstorming bubbles, or concept maps
  • Investigate the literature > refine the research question > search again using other keywords from the refined question

Search Tips

  • Determine where you will search and search multiple places
  • Keep a research journal or annotated bibliography
  • Use Boolean Operators AND, OR, NOT
    • literacy AND music 
    • middle OR secondary
    • music education NOT higher (for higher education)
  • Phrase Search with Quotation Marks 
    • music education will search both words separately
    • "music education" will search the phrase in the exact order and way it appears
  • Use truncation * 
    • teach* searches for teach, teacher, teaching, teaches
  • Use filters in the date to search for date ranges or just articles or just books
  • Search by subject in the library catalog
    • Change the drop down menu in the advance search to narrow your search to a subject determined by Library of Congress and librarians