what are keywords in thesis

1.  Go to the library's homepage and find the Everything search box .

2.  Choose one keyword from each concept list.  Type those keywords into the search box. Type AND between each one (learn about Boolean operators : AND, OR, NOT ).

Examples (from our list above) :

• students AND online classes AND social networking AND learning
• college students AND online courses AND social media AND performance
• learners AND online courses AND Facebook AND grades  

3.  Click search and explore the results.  Try several of your keyword combinations, and keep a list of the keywords that fetch the most relevant articles .

• If you get too many results, try to narrow your search by adding more keywords .
• If you get too few results, try to broaden your search by using fewer keywords .

4.   Look closely at the most relevant articles in your search results. You may see new author-supplied keywords or database subject headings that describe your topic. Add those terms to your list .

5.  Create new keyword combinations from your refined list of terms, and test them again ! 

•  undergraduates AND online courses AND social networking
•  student engagement AND higher education AND social networking
• learning communities AND online courses AND social networking

6.   As you try out new keyword combinations, it can be very helpful to save the most relevant articles as you go along.

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How To Create Perfect Keywords In Research Papers

Posted by Rene Tetzner | Apr 6, 2021 | How To Get Published | 0 |

How To Create Perfect Keywords In Research Papers Although an extremely small part of an academic or scientific paper, keywords pack a very large punch in today’s world of online searches and digital publication. With many journal articles available worldwide almost immediately via the internet, it might even be argued that a paper’s keywords have become more important than its title. In one sense, this may be true: it is certainly easier to include in the keywords the terms you think readers are likely to use when searching for material on the topics covered in your paper because that is precisely why the keywords are created, and there is no need to compromise by joining them syntactically into the logical sense expected in a title. Keywords are simply listed, usually in alphabetical order immediately after a paper’s abstract, with the individual terms separated by commas or semicolons and often bearing initial capitals. Between three and ten keywords are normally required (with three to eight being most common), but each keyword can usually contain more than one word, although unnecessary connective words (such as ‘and,’ ‘or,’ ‘of’ and ‘between’) should be avoided as much as possible. The journal to which you plan to submit an article may have specific formatting requirements for keywords, so do check the guidelines carefully for any relevant instructions.

The keywords you choose should first and foremost be terms that represent the central concepts in your article, but they should also be terms that potential readers seeking information of the kind contained in your paper are most likely to enter into search engines. As a general rule, nonstandard abbreviations should not be used as keywords, especially if it is possible to use the full terms, which tend to be clearer for readers. Acronyms and initialisms are usually acceptable, especially if the abbreviated versions are more common or better known than the full terms (as is the case, for instance, with ‘AIDS,’ ‘NASA,’ ‘CD’ and ‘IQ’). In fact, abbreviations of any kind may be preferred in your keywords if it is more likely that they rather than their full versions will be used by readers researching your topic, but do check journal guidelines to be sure they are appropriate. Your keywords should also reflect the technical and/or theoretical language currently used within your discipline or field of study, so specialised terminology may be appropriate for some of your keywords, but highly specialised language should only be used in keywords if it is probable that it will also be used by potential readers as they search for material associated with your topic.

Remember that by choosing appropriate keywords and using them effectively in other searchable parts of your paper as well (such as the title and abstract), you empower your article, increasing its chances of being read and cited. At the same time, you help increase the number of readers and the ratings of the journal that has published your paper, which makes for a win-win situation all around.

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When searching for resources,  DO NOT  enter the whole research question. 

Unlike a Google search, a journal article database cannot sort through all the words, and the results will be all over the place, or you will get no results.

The best method is to create a search strategy using keywords.

Begin by examining your research question to determine the major concepts or words with a specific meaning. These terms will form the basis of your search. 

When picking keywords avoid all minor words ("a," "an," or "the"), and prepositions or verb phrases ("on," "in," or "going to").

Also, use verbs (action words) and adjectives (descriptive words) sparingly.

For example, if your research question is:   

Does playing video games increase the chance that children will be violent?  

Words such as (does, the, that, chance, will, and be) don't have a specific meaning, so we can cross them out.  

Does playing video games increase the chance that children will be violent?

"Playing" is an action verb to describe what someone does with the game, and since there aren't other options, we can also cross this word off.  

Does   playing video games increase  the chance that  children  will be  violent?

While "increase" is getting at the relationship between violence and video games, if you include it, you will prejudice the results because you will be excluding results that talk about video games decreasing violence. 

Does   playing  video games increase  the chance that  children  will be  violent?

In the end, we are left with three major concepts in the sentence are:   

Video Games

Children  

Now you can develop these concepts into search terms that you can use do develop your search strategy.

A variety of words may describe your keywords, so you should brainstorm possible synonyms for them.  For example, children and youth are two different words used to describe a similar concept (human beings under the age of 18).  If you only entered the term "children" into a search of a database, then you would miss all the articles that deal with "youth."  To maximize the number of results you will get in a search, you need to include synonyms. Here is a list of possible synonyms of the keywords we identified:

If you need help generating synonyms for your keywords, try a few searches and look at the language the papers use or look at a thesaurus.

Source  and Source

• Worksheet This worksheet will help you generate keywords.
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Top 10 Rules to Identify Keywords for Your Research Paper

During one of my research endeavours, I found myself at a conference, engrossed in a conversation with a fellow researcher about strategies to enhance the visibility of our research papers. They shared an intriguing insight—they had collaborated with journal editors who emphasized the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in boosting research visibility.

Curiosity piqued, I delved into the world of SEO, eager to explore its potential impact on my own work. As I embarked on this journey, I discovered that SEO revolves around utilizing the right words and phrases in research papers to ensure they’re easily discoverable by search engines like Google.

Armed with newfound knowledge, I began implementing SEO techniques in my papers. The results were remarkable—my papers started appearing higher in Google searches, reaching a wider audience in the process. It became evident that increased visibility translated into more readership and potential citations for my research.

Moreover, my colleague shed light on the concept of long-tail keywords during our discussion. Long-tail keywords, consisting of longer, more specific phrases, are known to enhance search appearances by targeting niche audiences. By incorporating long-tail keywords into my papers, I further optimized their visibility and relevance in search engine results.

In essence, my journey into the realm of SEO underscored the transformative impact of digital know-how in academia. Through strategic keyword selection and SEO techniques, researchers can amplify the reach and influence of their work, paving the way for greater recognition and impact in the scholarly community.

Why Keyword Selection for a Research Paper is Crucial?

• Tips for Writing Keywords  for a Research Paper

Which Words Can not be Keywords in My Research Paper?

The role of conference /journal selection in citations and scholarly impact, can i add a keyword synonym for the actual keyword, in what order i should arrange keywords alphabetically or in order of importance, can i add acronyms as keywords, where do you put keywords in a research paper, can i take insights from the keywords listed in research papers of my reference, when is the best stage in the research paper writing process to identify and finalize the keywords, introduction.

In today’s rapidly expanding digital age, researchers face the challenge of making their valuable contributions stand out amidst a vast sea of information. The visibility and discoverability of research papers play a crucial role in the dissemination of knowledge and the impact of scholarly work. To address this challenge, incorporating effective keywords becomes a vital strategy for researchers seeking to enhance their paper’s reach and influence.

Keywords serve as concise phrases or words that encapsulate the essence of a research paper, providing a quick snapshot of its content. When well-chosen and thoughtfully integrated into the paper, keywords can significantly increase citations, attract more readers, and elevate the visibility of the research in search engine results. By making a paper easily searchable, keywords enable fellow researchers to find and access relevant studies, fostering collaboration and further advancing scientific progress.

While researchers may not have direct control over the search ranking algorithms employed by platforms such as Google, they hold a powerful tool in their hands: the keyword listing section within their research papers. This section grants researchers the privilege to influence their paper’s ranking on search engines, giving them the opportunity to propel their work to the forefront of scholarly exploration.

Moreover, keywords function as invaluable filters in the vast ocean of available resources. In databases and search engines, keywords serve as crucial parameters that retrieve results based on their relevance to the search query. The more relevant keywords a paper contains, the higher its likelihood of appearing prominently in search results, enabling it to captivate the attention of readers seeking information on a specific topic.

The importance of selecting appropriate keywords cannot be overstated. These carefully chosen terms not only define the domain, subdomain, and research objective of the paper but also facilitate indexing, categorization, and targeted display of the article to researchers seeking related content. By including the right keywords, researchers can ensure their work is more easily searched, cited, and incorporated into the ongoing scholarly dialogue.

Keywords are phrases or words that sum up your  research paper.  They increase the number of citations you receive and make your paper searchable (and easily discoverable!). Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate domain and methodology related  keywords of your research work to aid in the discovery of your paper.

For a researcher, making his/her research paper available to the research community, on the  Google search engine  within the first few search page results is a challenging task.  The appearance of an article in search results will push the research scholars to download, refer and cite articles in their work. This will help the researcher to increase his citation counts and improve his research profile to a greater extent.

Though the researcher does not have direct control over the journal search ranking on the Google search engine in which he/she has published the paper, still he/she can make his article rank higher with one simple option.  Keyword listing is one such section within a research paper, where the researcher has the privilege to push the ranking of the paper on the Google search engine.

Keywords, therefore, are vital for filtering the abundant amount of resources available. Keywords are one of the parameters used for searching an article in a database or a search engine, that in turn retrieves a bunch of results ranked according to relevancy.

The appearance of the document higher in the order is directly proportional to the number of relevant keywords used in that document. Then how to make our research paper rank higher in the search results and not be lost in the ocean of the documents stored on the net? The answer is of course choosing the right and relevant keywords.

The purpose of keywords in a research article is to help other researchers find your paper when they are conducting a search on the topic. Picking the apt keywords is crucial because these are used for indexing purposes. Well-picked keywords help your article to be more easily searched and cited.

In a research article, abstracts are usually followed by a list of keywords selected by the author. Keywords define the domain, subdomain, topic, research objective, etc. that are covered by the article. Most search engines, citation indexing databases, or journal websites refer keywords to decide where and when to display your article to the researchers who are searching for articles related to your article.

Keywords make your article easily searchable and ensure that your article gets more citations.  Hence it is essential to include and select relevant keywords and filter out the large body of unwanted material.

Let us take an example to see why keywords are useful. A paper titled  ” New approaches in Leaf Image processing using Machine Learning Techniques”   describes, how some  Machine Learning Algorithms will help in identifying the leaf spot diseases like Bacterial Blight at the earlier stage using  Machine learning based Image Processing techniques. 

Suitable keywords for such a paper can  include the following 

• Support Vector Machine, Reinforcement Learning  ( From Machine Learning concepts)
• Image Segmentation, Image Clustering  (From Image Processing concept)
• Leaf Spot disease names Bacterial Blight, Anthracnose etc.  ( From Domain concept)  

Search for any of these keywords will lead a  research scholar to this paper.

Tips for Writing Keywords  for a Research Paper

Here are a few tips that will help you create relevant and effective keywords for your research paper:

• Start thinking about the terms you use to search for research papers related to your topic. Possibly these are the terms used by other researchers for searching the topic of your interest. These terms can be ideal keywords for your research paper.
• Most of the time it is assumed that a keyword means a single word. However, as per the research, search engine users are becoming more specific and they have understood that a single keyword is probably going to be too broad of a search to return the articles they’re looking for. A good example is what happens when you do a search for the keyword “security”, you may be in need of articles written on network security for cloud computing but doing a quick search on Google with the keyword security gives you results as varied as articles on security article in Wikipedia, Security of nation, the Social Security number,  security jobs in your local area or a recently released movie with title “security”. Using the keyword phrase “network security for cloud computing”, returns a couple of research articles about network security for cloud computing. Keywords should ideally be phrases of 2-3 words. Ideally can give single-word keywords but it may lead to many false matches. Note that actually, keywords are not simply a set of words instead they are phrases. Examples:  Soft Computing for Leaf Image Analysis, Support Vector Machine for Fruit quality Identification, Neural Network for Leaf Image Extraction
• Identify the generally used alternate terms for the words written in your title. That is, include significant abbreviations, acronyms, and other short-form or substitute names for your paper. But care should be taken while using acronyms that may have other meanings. WWW would be an abbreviation since most hits would relate to the Internet. Similarly, other abbreviations like   i)  SVM for Support Vector Machine, ii) NN for Neural Network and iii) Soft Computing for Neural Network, Fuzzy Logic and Genetic Algorithm  can be used
• Do not use words or phrases from the title as keywords. Keywords should contain a list of words that supplement your title’s content. This is because most of the search engines and journal databases use Research Title for indexing purposes. TITLE:   “Leaf Image Analysis for Pathological Issues Using  Soft Computing Techniques” KEYWORDS :  Unsupervised   Neural Networks, Leaf Spot disease Identification,  Disease spot extraction using Image Processing.
• Keywords should contain words and phrases that suggest what the topic is about. Also include words and phrases that are closely related to your topic. (For example, if the paper is about  Image Processing for Leaf Spot Identification and Disease Classification use words like   Plant Pathology, Bacterial Blight in pomegranate, Leaf Disease spot Identification etc .
• If your research revolves around a key method or technique, make sure the term for it is located in your keyword. Example: If the method uses  Multi-Spectral Camera  for image capturing and processing then Keywords must contain terms like Multi-Spectral Image Analysis.
• If the paper focuses on a particular region use that as a keyword. If the paper is on  Voice Analysis of Southern Indian Community for Age Identification  then  Keyword can be “ Southern Indian Community ”  If the paper is P omegranate Leaf Spot Identification using a Support Vector Machine  and if the pomegranate considered are from the Indian sub-continent then the keyword can be ”  Pomegranate plant of the Indian subcontinent “.
• If your article is about developing applications, check whether potential applications, issues or phenomena can serve as keywords ( Smart City Construction, Plant Pathology,  Medical Image Processing for Skin Cancer, Sensor for Tsunami ).
• The most important experimental techniques used in your article are worth considering as keywords.  For example,  Stereo Vision for Robot,  X-ray analysis for pomegranate fruit etc .
• Some sites  provide keyword generators or keyword planners to help you think of other terms you could include.

General Insights Regarding Keywords in Research Papers

• Number of keywords:  Research papers typically include a list of 3-6 keywords, although some papers may have more or fewer. The specific number of keywords can vary based on the guidelines provided by the target journal or conference.
• Keyword density:  There is no set rule for keyword density in research papers. The focus should be on selecting relevant and accurate keywords rather than trying to achieve a specific density. However, it’s important to include the main concepts and themes of your research in the keywords to enhance discoverability.
• Keyword variations:  Including variations of keywords, such as synonyms or related terms, can improve the visibility and searchability of your research paper. This allows readers using different terminology to find your paper when searching for related topics.
• Keyword importance:  While keywords are essential for search engine optimization and indexing purposes, their impact on the ranking and visibility of research papers can vary across different platforms and databases. Factors such as the relevance of the content, citation count, and journal reputation can also influence the visibility of a research paper.
• Keyword trends:  Research fields and disciplines may have specific keywords or terms that gain prominence or decline over time due to emerging trends, advancements, or changes in terminology. Staying updated with the latest literature and research in your field can help you identify and incorporate relevant keywords.
• Common words:  Avoid using generic and commonly used words that do not add specific value to your research topic. For example, if your research paper is about the effects of climate change on coral reefs, using words like “the,” “and,” “of,” “in,” etc., as keywords would not provide any meaningful information specific to your study.
• Very broad terms:  Keywords should ideally be more specific and focused to represent the main ideas or concepts of your research. For instance, if your research paper is about the impact of social media on mental health in adolescents, using the keyword “media” would be too broad and may lead to a large number of unrelated search results. Instead, you could use keywords like “social media,” “mental health,” “adolescents,” etc., to make the search more targeted.
• Highly technical terms:  While research papers often include technical terminology, using overly specialized or obscure terms as keywords may limit the discoverability of your paper. For example, if your research paper is about a new cancer treatment method, using a complex and specific scientific term that only experts in the field would understand might make it difficult for other researchers or readers to find your paper. It would be better to use more accessible keywords that convey the main concept, such as “cancer treatment,” “novel therapy,” or “medical innovation.”
• Personal pronouns:  Avoid using personal pronouns like “I,” “we,” “you,” etc., as keywords. Keywords should reflect the general scope and content of your research rather than emphasizing the author’s perspective. For instance, if your research paper is about renewable energy sources, using a keyword like “my study” would be inappropriate. Instead, opt for keywords like “renewable energy,” “solar power,” “wind turbines,” etc.
• Single words without context:  Selecting keywords that consist of a single word without any context or modifiers may not effectively convey the essence of your research. For example, if your research paper is about the impact of exercise on cardiovascular health, using a keyword like “exercise” on its own would be too vague. Instead, you could use keywords like “exercise benefits,” “cardiovascular health,” “physical activity effects,” etc., to provide more specific and meaningful information about your study.

Remember that the goal of choosing keywords is to accurately represent your research and increase its discoverability, so it’s important to be strategic in selecting terms that best capture the main themes and concepts of your paper.

Let me show you an example of a Research Paper with a Title, Abstract and set of possible Keywords

Title :  Leaf Disease Feature Identification and Extraction Using Deep Neural Network Abstract Extraction of meaningful leaf disease features by applying image processing techniques is a problem that has been studied by the image processing community for decades.  Image processing research for leaf spot disease identification has matured significantly throughout the years, and many advances in image processing techniques continue to be made, allowing new techniques to be applied to new and more demanding pathological problems. In this paper, a method for the detection and classification of leaf spot diseases affecting Pomegranate crops is developed using  Deep learning Neural networks. Throughout, we have presented tables and charts to compare the performance of the proposed method with state-of-the-art techniques. Experimental results show that Deep Neural Networks handle uncertainty effectively and they can be trained with limited data sets. The paper has also made suggestions for future research directions. Keywords : Image Processing for plant pathology, diseased leaf spot extraction,  leaf spot disease classification, segmentation of leaf spot disease, Machine learning for Leaf disease identification, Pomegranate leaf disease identification, Pomegranate leaf disease classification.

Please note that, sheer identification of keywords may not push your citation score. Selecting a reputable journal and avoiding predatory conferences and journals is crucial for maximizing the visibility and impact of your research article. By publishing in a respected journal, you increase the likelihood of attracting a broader and more qualified readership, thus increasing the chances of your article being cited by other researchers. Choosing the right journal involves considering factors such as the journal’s scope, target audience, impact factor, indexing in reputable databases, peer-review process, and overall reputation in the field. Additionally, it is important to stay vigilant and avoid predatory conferences and journals that may engage in unethical practices or lack rigorous peer-review processes.

These predatory outlets may hinder the credibility and recognition of your work. By carefully selecting a reputable journal, you position your research for greater exposure, credibility, and citation potential.

Visit my articles on ” How to identify and avoid predatory conferences and journals ” and “ Identifying Reputable journals for your research paper “. These articles will help you in getting your articles cited by many authors.

In the age of information overload, where research papers are easily lost in the vast sea of digital content, the strategic use of keywords emerges as a powerful tool for researchers. By carefully selecting and incorporating relevant keywords, researchers can enhance the visibility, discoverability, and impact of their scholarly work.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can certainly add keyword synonyms for the actual keywords in your research paper. Including synonyms can enhance the discoverability of your paper and improve its visibility in search engines and databases. When adding keyword synonyms, it’s advisable to place them within parentheses next to the corresponding actual keyword. Here’s an example: Keywords: apple (fruit), banana (fruit), cherry (fruit)

The order in which you arrange the keywords in your research paper depends on the specific guidelines provided by the journal or conference you are submitting to. Some publishers may require keywords to be listed in alphabetical order, while others may suggest organizing them based on their importance or relevance to the study. Therefore, it’s important to consult the submission guidelines or instructions provided by the target publication. If the guidelines don’t specify a preferred order, you have the flexibility to choose between alphabetical order and order of importance. Alphabetical order is a common and straightforward approach that allows for easy reference and searchability. However, if you believe that emphasizing the importance or relevance of certain keywords is more appropriate for your research, you can arrange them in order of importance. In such cases, you should provide a clear rationale for the chosen order of keywords, especially if it deviates from the standard alphabetical arrangement.

Yes, you can add acronyms as keywords in your research paper. Including acronyms as keywords can be useful, especially if they are commonly used or widely recognized in your field of study. However, it’s important to provide the full expansion or definition of the acronym when it is first mentioned in the paper or in the list of keywords. For example: Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) In this example, the acronyms “AI,” “ML,” and “NLP” are included as keywords. However, the full expansion of each acronym is provided within parentheses next to the respective acronym. This ensures that readers who may not be familiar with the acronyms can understand their meaning and context.

In a research paper, keywords are typically included after the abstract section. Abstract: Begin by including a section labelled “Keywords” or “Key Terms” immediately after the abstract. List the keywords in alphabetical order, separated by commas or semicolons.

Examining top-quality research papers in your area of work and analyzing the keywords they have listed can be a valuable approach to generate insights and identify relevant keywords for your own research paper. It can provide you with a better understanding of the terminology and keywords commonly used within your field. This method can help ensure that your paper aligns with established literature and facilitates discoverability among researchers in your domain. By reviewing keywords from well-regarded papers, you can gain insights into the specific terms and phrases that are currently prominent and influential in your field. This approach also allows you to observe how other researchers describe similar concepts, methodologies, or research areas. You can adapt and refine those keywords to suit your own study while maintaining relevance to the broader academic community. However, it’s important to note that while this method can be helpful, it should not be the sole approach for selecting keywords. It should be combined with other strategies, such as brainstorming related terms, considering your target audience, and evaluating keyword relevance. The goal is to create a comprehensive list of keywords that accurately represents your research and maximizes the chances of your paper being discovered by the intended audience.

The stage at which keywords are identified in the research paper writing process can vary. Ideally, you should start considering and identifying potential keywords during the early stages of your research project. Here’s a breakdown of the typical timeline for identifying keywords: Research planning and topic selection: When you are in the initial stages of planning your research and selecting a topic, start thinking about the main concepts and themes that define your study. These initial ideas can serve as a foundation for generating keywords later on. Literature review: As you conduct your literature review, pay attention to the keywords and terms used in existing research papers that are relevant to your topic. Note down any keywords that are commonly used and appear to be influential in your field. This process will help you gain insights into the terminology and vocabulary used by other researchers. Keyword brainstorming: Once you have a clear understanding of your research topic and have familiarized yourself with the existing literature, engage in a keyword brainstorming session. Generate a list of related terms, synonyms, phrases, and variations associated with your research area. This step will help you expand your keyword options. Refinement and finalization: After brainstorming, evaluate and refine your list of potential keywords. Consider the relevance, specificity, and popularity of each keyword. Narrow down your selection to a concise set of keywords (usually 3-6) that accurately represent your research. Incorporation into the paper: Include the finalized keywords in your research paper after the abstract and before the main body, as discussed earlier. Ensure that they are listed in a clear and easily readable format. By identifying keywords early in the research paper writing process, you can ensure that your research is appropriately categorized, discoverable, and aligned with the relevant literature in your field.

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Our tool will present you with a list of keywords and phrases from any text you paste. There are several features that make it stand out from similar instruments:

🗝️ What Are Keywords in a Research Paper?

Keywords are phrases and words that reflect a research papers’ main ideas and topics . They help search engines and readers alike to quickly understand what the work is about. Such terms and phrases also allow researchers interested in your subject to promptly find your paper, share it, and cite it. Depending on the format of your work, keywords can be placed in its metadata or the abstract .

Why Are Keywords Important?

Oftentimes, students and professionals alike don’t take the time to choose the keywords for their research papers. They might be under the impression that if the work is good enough, others will find it anyway. In reality, that is not the case.

Choosing the most appropriate keywords has the following advantages:

• More precise search results . It ensures that your papers will be quickly found in search engines and academic registries. This way, researchers and other people interested in the topic have a better chance of coming across your work.
• Showing the paper’s relevance . Key words and phrases get across the main subject of the paper, summarize the main ideas , and make it easier for people to determine if they may be interested in the research.
• Quick communication with evaluators . Having keywords in your work lets your professors quickly comprehend the content and subject of your study.

🔍 How to Choose Keywords in Research Papers

This section will give you an understanding of the general rules about choosing keywords for academic works. There are several things we advise keeping in mind:

• Check the instructions . Before adding keywords, carefully read manuals provided by your professors or scientific journals. These materials should contain the volume of allowed keywords (3–5 on average, up to 10 in rare cases) and explain whether these should be picked from a pre-selected list.
• Choose specific words and phrases . When selecting your keywords, it is best not to use generic phrases. You should avoid abstract concepts or common words, since they can cause your paper to get lost in the search results. Instead, it is best to stay specific to the subject matter. For example, if you write about heart disease, use keys such as “ peripheral arterial disease ” or “acute coronary heart disease.”
• Search for optimized terms . Maximize the paper’s reach by optimizing terms. Google Scholar is a great way to discover the proper terminology for research in different fields.
• Include the methodology . Additionally, it’s essential to name the methodology used in the study. For example, regarding medicine, clinical trial types or experimental techniques are a perfect choice for papers on this subject.

Keywords Format: APA Style

APA is currently one of the most used formats for academic research papers. There are several things students should be aware of when writing works that follow its guidelines.

• Recommended fonts . In the APA style , it’s possible to use 10-point Computer Modern, 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, 11-point Arial, 11-point Calibri, 11-point Georgia, or 12-point Times New Roman fonts.
• Placement . Students should place the keywords list on the research’s second page, one line below the abstract.
• Label . These words and phrases must be labeled as “Keywords,” intended like a regular paragraph, and put in italics.
• Text . In the APA format, keywords are on the same line and one space after the label. They are written in the lowercase, with capitalized proper nouns. Don’t use bold or italic and remember to separate them with commas. There’s no ending punctuation after the final keyword. Students can list them in any order and use double-space if the keywords run onto the second line.

💡 4 Best Tips for Writing Keywords for Your Research

Finding and incorporating the right keywords in research studies takes time and effort to perfect. We’ve decided to give several tips that will help you hone your research and article-writing skills .

• Avoid keywords that are too narrow or too broad . This is one of the trickiest things to pull off while looking for the perfect keywords. Make them excessively precise, and you will narrow your audience significantly. Make them too broad, and the article will be lost in search results.
• Steer clear of obscure search terms . If you want the work to appear in academic directories, don’t use terms people rarely seek. For example, people rarely search for Latin animal or plant species names, so keep things closer to plain English.
• Don’t mislead readers . Don’t use keys unrelated to your topic to get into the search results. Such things remove credibility from your writing and add unnecessary difficulties for people trying to find it.
• Use the appropriate format . When choosing your keywords, it is best to remember several general rules. For example, you should try avoiding abbreviations where possible. Additionally, it is best to use short phrases rather than singular words.

Our research paper generator will become a valuable tool for your academic pursuits. Also, we recommend you try our effective plagiarism checker ! If you have any questions, check out our FAQ section.

❓ Research Paper Keyword Generator – FAQ

• Consider words and phrases that expand or narrow the paper’s scope.
• Use phrases instead of single words without context.
• Avoid abbreviations.
• Check the guidelines.
• Find short phrases.
• Use general terms.
• Stay specific.
• Mention the methodology.

Updated: Oct 30th, 2023

• How to Write a Research Paper. – Lebanon Valley College
• Keyword Searching: Finding Articles on Your Topic: Select Keywords. – Walden University
• Research Foundations: Choose Keywords. – Seminole State College Library
• Guidelines for Selecting Keywords. – Kansas State University
• A Guide to Writing an Effective Abstract / Selecting Keywords for Discovery. – Cambridge University Press & Assessment
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On this page, you will find an effective research paper keyword generator, which will make your task much more manageable. Additionally, you can use our valuable materials that will assist you in determining which words and phrases are perfect for your research.

Research Foundations: Choose Keywords

• Information Literacy
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• Chapter 1 Self Quiz
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• Refine Your Topic
• Develop a Thesis Statement
• Choose Keywords
• Create Search Statements
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• Chapter 5 Self Quiz

From your thesis statement, identify the main concepts or keywords. You will use these to find information in search tools like library catalogs, library databases, or on the Web. By creating a list of keywords, you will be able to construct better and more efficient searches. These in turn will lead you to more plentiful and relevant information supporting your thesis.

Follow the three-step process below for discovering keywords. It is helpful to keep track of the keywords on a sheet of paper or a word processing document for reference.

Three-Steps to Choosing Keywords

1. Extract single words or short phrases.

You will not use complete sentences as you would in normal conversation to search. Leave out minor words such as articles ("a," "an," or "the") and prepositions or verb phrases ("on," "in," or "going to").

Also, use nouns (person, place, or thing) as keywords. Avoid verbs (action words) and use adjectives (descriptive words) sparingly.

2. Experiment with different synonyms.

Try thinking of synonyms (words that have the same meaning as another word) of your keywords. For example, you start with the word "trash," but you could also experiment with using the words "garbage" or “waste.” An online or printed thesaurus is a great place to find synonyms.

3. Think of related terms to describe your topic.

What are some other topics or areas related to your thesis? These may be worthy of consideration if you are having trouble finding good keywords or if you want to further refine your research focus. For example, some related terms to "pollution" are "acid rain," "global warming," or "refuse water." The related terms may be more specific or less specific than the original terms in your thesis. Each combination will change the number and type of your search results.

Choosing Search Terms Handout and Video

• Video Tutorial (3m 43s)
• Choosing Keywords for Research

For further explanation, take a look at this short video tutorial on choosing appropriate keywords, or search terms, for your topic.

Example of Three-Steps

Checkout the three-step keyword process in action.

Thesis Statement: Exercise improves health in the elderly.

1. Extract single words or short phrases: → exercise, health, elderly

2. Experiment with synonyms: → physical activity, fitness, working out, well-being, aging adults, older adults

3. Think of related terms: → walking, running, cardio, weight lifting, obesity, disease, diabetes

• << Previous: Develop a Thesis Statement
• Next: Create Search Statements >>
• Last Updated: May 2, 2024 9:24 AM
• URL: https://libguides.seminolestate.edu/researchfoundations

How to Generate Search Terms

Create a research topic.

Enter your research topic below. Try to limit the topic to one sentence that fully describes your research. Here are a few examples:

• Effects of media on women's body image
• Trends in information technology in the workplace
• Fast food causes health risks for children

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Tips for Abstracts and Keywords

When submitting your ETD, you must include an abstract for your thesis or dissertation. The abstract will be included in the public record of your thesis or dissertation.

Keywords are also required for your ETD. When selecting keywords, choose keywords that describe the content of your thesis or dissertation. Use keywords that will be easily recognized by others in your discipline.

• personality
• atomic emission spectroscopy
• Renaissance music
• Pride and Prejudice
• Jane Austen
• global feminism

Try not to use adjectives by themselves as keywords. For example, the word long-term doesn’t convey meaning by itself. However, if used in conjunction with a noun (e.g. long-term care), the meaning has greater significance. If possible include at least one keyword that does not appear in the abstract or title.

Using keywords to write your title and abstract

Help people find your research with our advice on using keywords to describe your work.

Writing your title and abstract are often the final things you do before you submit an article. However, it is very important not to rush this process as they are both crucial for making your article easy to discover and telling readers what they can expect to learn.

Follow the advice below to help you choose your keywords, and make sure your title and abstract are as effective as possible.

Choosing keywords for your research paper

Selecting the right keywords is how to start a good title and abstract, as well as helping the right readers find your article online.

When you submit your article you’ll usually need to include keywords. These will be used to index your article on  Taylor & Francis Online and on search engines such as  Google Scholar TM .

These keywords will help others find your article quickly and accurately. Think of them as the labels for your article. A strong correlation exists between online hits and subsequent citations for journal articles, therefore it is important to have effective keywords.

But how do you choose your keywords? Put yourself in the mindset of someone searching for articles on your topic, what words or phrases would you enter?

Before you begin your list, check the instructions for authors on your target journal’s homepage on Taylor & Francis Online . There may be specific journal requirements on how many keywords to choose. If they haven’t specified, you could look through a recent paper to get an idea.

Basic tips for creating your keyword list

Read through your paper and highlight any key terms or phrases that are most relevant to the focus of your work.

Draw up a shortlist.

Try searching with your keywords to make sure the results fit with your article and so you can see how useful they would be to others.

Narrow down your keywords to make sure they are as accurate as possible.

Review your final list and ask yourself, will these keywords be most effective at indexing my article online?

Sustainable Development Goal keywords

As more research continues to make important contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we want to support authors in drawing attention to the relevance of their work.

We have recently introduced a set of SDG keywords to selected journals and these keywords will be used to tag papers related to each SDG. This tagging will better highlight the research to readers and enable readers to search for all papers on Taylor & Francis Online using that keyword, with the collection growing over time as tagged papers are published.

Use of these keywords is author-led, with authors determining if their submitted manuscript is relevant to one or more of the SDGs and choosing to add the keywords as appropriate. If a journal is offering SDG keyword tagging, you will be made aware of it in the Instructions for Authors.

Include the relevant SDG keywords within your manuscript file using the format of the keywords list shown below – see ‘The SDG keyword list’. On submission you will be given the option to add the relevant keywords to your submission via a keyboard dropdown menu.

The SDG keyword list The collection of SDG-relevant research will grow over time as tagged papers are published on Taylor & Francis Online

SDG 1: No poverty

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 3: Good health and well-being

SDG 4: Quality education

SDG 5: Gender equality

SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation

SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

SDG 13: Climate action

SDG 14: Life below water

SDG 15: Life on land

SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals

How to write an effective title for your paper

Good writing titles should be concise, accurate, and informative, and it should tell the reader exactly what the article is about. This is where the keywords you’ve identified come in. It’s vital to incorporate your most relevant keywords in your title to make your article more discoverable in online searches.

The title should include 1-2 keywords, and these keywords should be within the first 65 characters of the title so that they are visible in the search engine results. This will help you produce an effective title.

Writing an effective title increases the potential audience for your article by making it more accessible to readers.

A good title for research paper should:

Incorporate the keywords, so that the article is more likely to be included in the results for relevant online searches.

Be understandable to a reader from outside its field.

Avoid abbreviations, formulae, and numbers.

Keep away from using “Investigation of…”; “Study of…”; “More about…”; “…revisited”.

Get straight to the point of what the article adds to the topic.

Editor’s view

Professor Mark Brundrett, Editor of Education 3-13

What is the abstract in a paper?

An abstract is ‘a few sentences that gives the main idea in an article or a scientific paper’ – definition of abstract from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press.

The abstract section of a research paper is the selling pitch of your article. It is where researchers can get a quick insight and decide whether to continue reading and cite your content, or instead look elsewhere.

It’s worth spending time to write an abstract that will win readers over. Think about article abstracts that you have read in the past.

What qualities would encourage you to read the full article? Is there anything that would put you off delving any deeper into the article? Consider these factors when writing your abstract.

Here are some ideas on what to focus on, to achieve the purpose of an abstract in research paper:

What your research is about

What methods have been used

What you found out

Each journal will have its own word limit for abstracts which you’ll find in the instructions for authors, but approximately 100–200 words are what you have to work with. Check the guidelines for the word count before you start writing.

As you would expect, accuracy is crucial in a good abstract. Whatever you argue or claim in the abstract must reflect what is in the main body of your article. There’s no room for discussion, or introducing any further points.

Tips for writing an abstract

Make sure that your abstract is self-contained, without abbreviations, footnotes, or incomplete references.

It should be a concise summary that makes sense on its own.

Include keywords throughout, but make sure the writing still flows naturally.

You should also avoid including any images, background information or technical terms that may not be understood without further explanation.

There is a significant difference between original research papers and review papers when it comes to abstracts.

For original papers, you should describe your method and procedures.

For reviews, you should first state the primary objective of the review, the reasoning behind your choice, the main outcomes and results of your review, and the conclusions that might be drawn, including their implications for further research, application, or practice.

Example of a well-constructed title and abstract

You can see below a clear and concise title built around five keywords highlighting the main points covered in the article.

The keywords are also used throughout the abstract in a natural way, without affecting readability.

Modelling malaria dynamics with partial immunity and protected travellers: optimal control and cost-effectiveness analysis

A mathematical model of malaria dynamics with naturally acquired transient immunity in the presence of protected travellers is presented. The qualitative analysis carried out on the autonomous model reveals the existence of backward bifurcation, where the locally asymptotically stable malaria-free and malaria-present equilibria coexist as the basic reproduction number crosses unity. The increased fraction of protected travellers is shown to reduce the basic reproduction number significantly. Particularly, optimal control theory is used to analyse the non-autonomous model, which incorporates four control variables. The existence result for the optimal control quadruple, which minimizes malaria infection and costs of implementation, is explicitly proved. Effects of combining at least any three of the control variables on the malaria dynamics are illustrated. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness analysis is carried out to reveal the most cost-effective strategy that could be implemented to prevent and control the spread of malaria with limited resources.

Keywords:  Malaria model ,  temporary immunity ,  protected travellers ,  optimal control ,  cost-effective analysis

Modelling malaria dynamics with partial immunity and protected travellers: optimal control and cost-effectiveness analysis  by S. Olaniyi, K. O. Okosun, S. O. Adesanya & R. S. Lebelo is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Abstract checklist

Have you clearly summarized the article?

Have you included your keywords?

Does it encourage researchers to read on?

Does it fit within the word count?

Is it easy to understand without any prior knowledge of the topic?

Video abstract

A video abstract lets you introduce readers to your article in your own words, telling others why they should read your research.

These short videos (three minutes or less) are published alongside the text abstract on Taylor & Francis Online and are an increasingly popular way of getting others to engage with published research, increasing the visibility of your work.

Find out more about creating a video abstract.

Graphical abstract

A graphical abstract is a useful tool that provides a concise, visual summary of the main conclusions of your article. It can be a great additional way to communicate your findings and is shown to potential readers in several places.

On  Taylor & Francis Online  you’ll see graphical abstracts on the journal’s table of contents page, on the article page itself, and in the PDF version of the article. Where there’s a print version of the journal, it’ll be included there too. Your graphical abstract can be an existing figure from your article if there’s something suitable, or it can be specifically designed for the purpose.

If you supply a graphical abstract, it will be shown in social media shares of your article. This is a great way to increase engagement with your article.

How should a graphical abstract be formatted?

Please make sure you follow these simple guidelines when formatting your graphical abstract:

Your image will often be displayed online at a width 525 pixels, so please make sure that the image is legible at this size.

The image should be saved as a .jpg, .png, or .tiff file.

Supply your graphical abstract as a separate file, labelled GraphicalAbstract1. Do not embed it in your manuscript file.

For optimal online display, your image should be supplied in landscape format with a 2:1 aspect ratio (2 length x 1 height).

A graphical abstract is mandatory for some journals, and for others it may be optional or may not be accepted at all. Always check the instructions for authors to make sure.

Example of a graphical abstract from  Organic Eu3+-complex-anchored porous diatomite channels enable UV protection and down conversion in hybrid material  by Xiaoshuang Yu, Lili Li, Yue Zhao, Xinzhi Wang, Yao Wang, Wenfei Shen, Xiaolin Zhang, Yanying Zhang, Jianguo Tang & Olle Inganäs, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

If you’d like to see some further examples of graphical abstracts then take a look at articles in  Science and Technology of Advanced Materials  and  Journal of Coordination Chemistry .

Expert help for your manuscript

Taylor & Francis Editing Services  offers a full range of pre-submission manuscript preparation services to help you improve the quality of your manuscript and submit with confidence.

Related resources

How to write a cover letter

Article submission checklist

Guide to making your submission

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Abstracts and keywords

Background and purpose.

An abstract is a short, descriptive preview of your work that is discoverable online and freely accessible to anyone. On Oxford Academic, abstracts are displayed in browse and search results, and readers with access can click through to the full text.

Keywords capture the topics covered in your work and are essential to determining the relevance of a piece of content to similar search terms. Abstracts and keywords (A&K) combined aid the discoverability of your content, help generate links to and from relevant content, and support the discovery of print and eBook content indexed in library catalogues or sold online.

High quality A&K help readers get to the content they are looking for—the better the A&K, the more likely your work will be read/purchased.

Providing abstracts and keywords

Abstracts and keywords are an essential part of your work and must be delivered with your manuscript at final submission. For chapter-based work, A&K must be provided for each chapter and for the full work. Editors of a multi-contributor work must ensure that the A&K are edited for consistency of format and style across the work.

Specifications

The following suggestions will help you create high quality A&K.

An abstract should provide a clear idea of your work’s main arguments and conclusions, highlighting its most important points. Abstracts created at the chapter/article and full work levels must:

• identify the content and express its thesis in the first sentence
• summarize rather than ‘sell’ the content
• refer to the content in the third-person neutral singular (‘it’, etc.)
• be a single paragraph, between 100 and 250 words
• not refer specifically to other works that are cited in the full text, unless the work is essential to the topic
• include the accompanying keywords in context.

Select words and phrases that readers might put into a search box to find your content. Book level terms should only refer to topics that are applicable to the whole work. If a term is only used in one chapter, include it as a keyword for that chapter, but find a higher-level term that applies to the entire book (e.g. if the term ‘asylum’ appears in one chapter, you might select a less granular term that is applicable to the whole book for the full book keywords, such as ‘immigration’ or ‘human rights’).

The following points must be observed for producing keywords for both complete works and individual chapters:

• Between five and ten keywords must be used to describe the work and each chapter.
• Keywords longer than a single word may be used only where specialist terms are recognized and necessary; do not exceed three words.
• Keywords should be in their basic form (e.g. singular nouns or infinitive verbs), in contrast to the abstract, where any word form may be used.
• Be as specific as possible; avoid more general words, which may be included in many searches.
• Accurately identify the most important topics covered in the piece of content.
• Use abbreviations, acronyms, and initializations if these are more familiar to the readership (e.g. ‘Tony Blair’ not ‘Anthony Charles Lynton Blair’).
• Use variants as separate keywords as necessary (e.g. ‘RAF’ and ‘Royal Air Force’).
• Proper nouns should be presented as ‘John Smith’ rather than ‘Smith, John’. 

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