Dr. Rath's Search String Generator
1
Start with your research question
What makes a good question?
- Be specific and researchable
- Example: "How does social media use affect college students' sleep?"
2
Identify key concepts
How to pick keywords
- Look for central nouns or ideas from your question
- Pick 2–4 main concepts
Concept 1
Concept 2
3
Add synonyms & related terms
Tips for finding synonyms
- Use thesaurus, Google Scholar phrasing, or subject-specific terms
- Include alternate spellings and broader/narrower terms
4
Review & search
Boolean basics
- OR connects synonyms: (A OR B)
- AND connects concepts: (A) AND (B)
- Use quotes for exact phrases: "social media"
Search summary
Your Boolean search
Your search will appear here