Chapter 1: Defining and Research Topic...
3. Identifying Concepts
Once you have stated your topic as a question, identify the main concepts, or keywords, in the question.
Do this by picking out the significant terms in your question.
How does drinking influence driving?
What are the laws on drinking and driving?
What are the statistics on drinking and driving?
Once you have picked out the keywords in your questions, make a list of synonyms and related terms. This list may provide you with additional terms to use when searching for information as well as ways to narrow or broaden your topic.
For example,
| DRINKING | INFLUENCE | DRIVING |
| alcoholism | change | DUI/DWI |
| substance abuse | affect | flying |
| intoxication | result | boating |
| inebriation | cause | machinery |
| addiction | alter | transportation |
