Simple Boolean logic to create a search statement using your key concepts.

What topic did you choose? What keywords did you notice as you scoped out your topic? [You are answering Step 1 and Step 2, #2.] A good research question will be open-ended and will narrow the topic in some way. Please share your research question and explain briefly how you developed it. [You are answering Step 2, #3.] What are the key concepts in your research question and what alternative words can you think of for each concept? [You are answering Step 2, # 5 & #7.] Try using simple Boolean logic to create a search statement using your key concepts. If you want to impress me and your classmates, try an advanced searching technique! What do you feel is still unclear to you about creating a search strategy?

Sample Solution

Step 1: Topic Choice

The topic I chose is the impact of social media on adolescent mental health. This topic is highly relevant in today's digital age, and there's a growing body of research exploring the complex relationship between social media use and mental well-being among young people.

Step 2: Scoping Out the Topic

As I started scoping out this topic, I noticed several key keywords:

Social media: This is a broad term that encompasses various platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.
Adolescent: This refers to individuals typically between the ages of 13 and 19.
Mental health: This includes a wide range of conditions, such as anxiety, depression, body image issues, self-esteem, and cyberbullying.
Impact: This refers to the effects of social media use, which can be both positive and negative.

Step 3: Research Question

Based on these keywords, I developed the following research question: How does the use of social media platforms impact the mental health outcomes of adolescents aged 13-19?

This question is open-ended as it does not seek a simple yes/no answer. It encourages a deeper exploration of the complex relationship between social media and adolescent mental health.

Step 5 & Step 7: Key Concepts and Alternative Words

Full Answer Section

Step 5 & Step 7: Key Concepts and Alternative Words

Social media:
- Alternative terms: social networking sites, social media platforms, online social networks, social media use, social media engagement.
Adolescent:
- Alternative terms: teenagers, youth, young adults, adolescents aged 13-19.
Mental health:
- Alternative terms: psychological well-being, mental well-being, emotional health, mental health outcomes, mental health issues, mental health disorders, psychological distress.
- Specific conditions: anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, body image, loneliness, cyberbullying, suicide risk.
Impact:
- Alternative terms: effects, influence, consequences, association, relationship, correlation.

Search Statement (Boolean Logic)

Basic: ("social media" OR "social networking sites") AND "adolescent" AND "mental health"
More Advanced: ("social media" OR "social networking sites") AND ("adolescent" OR "teenager") AND ("mental health" OR "psychological well-being") AND ("impact" OR "effects")

Unclear Aspects of Creating a Search Strategy:

Platform-specific nuances: How to effectively search for platform-specific impacts (e.g., Instagram's impact on body image, TikTok's impact on attention span).
Identifying specific research methodologies: How to refine searches to include only studies using specific research methods (e.g., longitudinal studies, experimental studies).
Balancing breadth and specificity: Finding the right balance between broad searches that capture a wide range of relevant literature and specific searches that focus on the most relevant aspects of the research question.

This exercise has helped me refine my research question and develop initial search strategies. I believe that by continuing to refine these strategies and explore different databases, I will be able to effectively locate relevant and high-quality research on the impact of social media on adolescent mental health.

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