Learning Outcomes - Recognize the difference between natural language and keyword searching.
- Select keywords out of research questions for keyword searching.
- Determine why your search may not give you the results you expect.
Keyword Searching in SCOUT and Databases
Start
This is an interactive tutorial. Click the button on the top right to find interactive elements. If the tutorial instructs you to click an element, please do!
Academic databases and SCOUT are excellent places to find scholarly sources for assignments. However, searching in databases and SCOUT is different than searching in Google or other search engines. Click each interface to see an example.
Why do Google and SCOUT provide such drastically different results?
Next
Google
SCOUT or Database
Uses natural language
Uses keyword searching
VS
- Natural language searching is like having a conversation: you can ask a full question, it interprets your intent, and it understands synonyms (teens ≈ adolescents).
- Extra words don't matter.
- Database keyword searching is like using tags or filters: you have to match the exact words (and their forms), or good sources won’t show up.
- Synonyms need to be searched on separately or with a Boolean Operator (AND, OR, NOT).
- Using extra words may keep you from getting the results you want.
Next
Keywords
In this example about poverty and standardized tests, changing the question to keywords and eliminating the words do, born, into, have, lower, and scores has now provided 37 results.
Next
Next
Quick Tips about Keywords
Next
Why can't I find sources about my topic?
There are three common reasons why you may not be finding the sources you want in SCOUT or our databases. Click each plus sign to learn more.
1. Try different terms, broaden, narrow 2. Look at it from a different perspective 3. It's just not there
Next
Thank you for completing Keyword Searching in SCOUT and Databases
Most people use natural language when using Google or other search engines. This means that you can interact with Google in much the way you would with another person. In this example, asking the question, "Do kids born into poverty have lower standardized test scores?" produces many results.
Entering that same question into SCOUT does not provide any results.
It's just not there
Sometimes we don't know enough about topic to even understand what is possible.
West Point Cadets, class of 1789
Someone unfamiliar with West Point may assume there WAS a class of 1789, but they will never find sources on this topic.
Icelandic civil war
Someone unfamiliar with the history of Iceland may have thought there was a civil war at one point, but there wasn't and no amount of keyword searching will produce sources about it.
Look at it from a different perspective
Because authors write from different perspectives, the keywords used to catalog their work may be different, even if discussing the same event or person.
Annexation or Reunification
Revolution or Uprising
Liberation or Invasion
Try different terms: narrow or broaden your search
Sometimes you need to broaden your search if your keywords aren't giving you enough results, sometimes you need to narrow your search if you are getting too many results.
Remember: SCOUT and the databases use keywords and the keywords aren't always the most obvious. If you are looking for indoor plants and you don't find much, try:
Too few results? Try:
- snake plant
- fern
- money tree
- succulents
- home botany
- indoor gardening
- tropical plants
- drought-tolerant plants
- low light plants
Names of places and ideas change over time. What else was something called?
Too many results? Try:
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Tiktok
- Snapchat
Sometimes it may seem like you are getting very few results for a topic that should have many. Try using synonyms for some of your keywords or add terms in a Boolean search string to get more relevant results. In our example about poverty and standardized test scores, consider:
- Kids
- Poverty
- low income
- poor
- economically disadvantaged
- Standardized tests
- SAT
- ACT
- state tests
- academic achievement
If allowed, try using Generative AI to come up with a list of search terms for your topic!
Changing standardized tests to academic achievement and removing the keyword kids returned many more results.
Choose the main words from your research question to be your keywords
- Does using a phone right before bed affect college students’ sleep?
- Keywords: smartphones, sleep quality, college students
- Can regular exercise reduce student stress during exams?
- Keywords: exercise, stress, finals
- How does fast food affect teen health?
- Keywords: fast food, health, teenagers
- What changed for women on the U.S. home front during WWII?
- Keywords: women, World War II, home front
Keyword Searching in SCOUT and Databases
Lori Mullooly
Created on February 2, 2026
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Transcript
Learning Outcomes- Recognize the difference between natural language and keyword searching.
- Select keywords out of research questions for keyword searching.
- Determine why your search may not give you the results you expect.
Keyword Searching in SCOUT and Databases
Start
This is an interactive tutorial. Click the button on the top right to find interactive elements. If the tutorial instructs you to click an element, please do!
Academic databases and SCOUT are excellent places to find scholarly sources for assignments. However, searching in databases and SCOUT is different than searching in Google or other search engines. Click each interface to see an example.
Why do Google and SCOUT provide such drastically different results?
Next
Google
SCOUT or Database
Uses natural language
Uses keyword searching
VS
Next
Keywords
In this example about poverty and standardized tests, changing the question to keywords and eliminating the words do, born, into, have, lower, and scores has now provided 37 results.
Next
Next
Quick Tips about Keywords
Next
Why can't I find sources about my topic?
There are three common reasons why you may not be finding the sources you want in SCOUT or our databases. Click each plus sign to learn more.
1. Try different terms, broaden, narrow 2. Look at it from a different perspective 3. It's just not there
Next
Thank you for completing Keyword Searching in SCOUT and Databases
Most people use natural language when using Google or other search engines. This means that you can interact with Google in much the way you would with another person. In this example, asking the question, "Do kids born into poverty have lower standardized test scores?" produces many results.
Entering that same question into SCOUT does not provide any results.
It's just not there
Sometimes we don't know enough about topic to even understand what is possible.
West Point Cadets, class of 1789
Someone unfamiliar with West Point may assume there WAS a class of 1789, but they will never find sources on this topic.
Icelandic civil war
Someone unfamiliar with the history of Iceland may have thought there was a civil war at one point, but there wasn't and no amount of keyword searching will produce sources about it.
Look at it from a different perspective
Because authors write from different perspectives, the keywords used to catalog their work may be different, even if discussing the same event or person.
Annexation or Reunification
Revolution or Uprising
Liberation or Invasion
Try different terms: narrow or broaden your search
Sometimes you need to broaden your search if your keywords aren't giving you enough results, sometimes you need to narrow your search if you are getting too many results.
Remember: SCOUT and the databases use keywords and the keywords aren't always the most obvious. If you are looking for indoor plants and you don't find much, try:
Too few results? Try:
Names of places and ideas change over time. What else was something called?
Too many results? Try:
Sometimes it may seem like you are getting very few results for a topic that should have many. Try using synonyms for some of your keywords or add terms in a Boolean search string to get more relevant results. In our example about poverty and standardized test scores, consider:
If allowed, try using Generative AI to come up with a list of search terms for your topic!
Changing standardized tests to academic achievement and removing the keyword kids returned many more results.
Choose the main words from your research question to be your keywords