Determining the search terms
For each element of the problem, try to find one or more search terms. Do so in the languages in which you wish to search (e.g. in Dutch and English).
When devising terms, you can consult subject dictionaries, encyclopaedias, handbooks, indices in books and thesauri (ordered lists of subject headings). The latter can normally be found in the Tinbergen reading room on the first floor of the University Library; in some instances, they are also available online. For example, Business Source Premier has a thesaurus and ABI/Inform Global has a topic guide and a thesaurus. Most scholarly databases have a thesaurus.
Take care: There may be variants of search terms such as synonyms, singular or plural forms, abbreviations or terms written in full, along with spelling variants. Take note of cross references and instructions eg. Use, See, See also. You should also take into account the associated subject headings that you find in thesauri. These may also be called narrower terms (NT), broader terms (BT), related terms (RT).
Once you have found several search terms per element, you should place these groups of search terms in an overview, as shown below: one column of search terms per element. It is also handy to classify the terms wherever possible.
With the elements ‘women’, ‘immigrants’, ‘labour market’ and ‘government policy’, you could create the following groups of search terms:
women | immigrants | labour market | government policy |
BT gender | BT ethnic groups | BT work | BT policy |
NT - | NT Morrocans | NT job seekers | NT municiple policy |
RT women in the job market | RT ethnicnity | RT career / equal pay | RT - |
