Once you have a research question, identifying its key concepts or key terms can help you figure out what words to use when you search for information. A focused research question usually has about three key concepts.

You might also find it helpful to think about what synonyms or related terms could be used to describe the different concepts. For example, if you were researching the concept of grades, related terms could include academic performance or academic achievement.

Check Your Understanding

In the next section, we’ll explore where you can search for information on your research question.