How to identify keywords when writing a research paper?

Selecting the right keywords for your research paper is crucial for SEO, indexing in academic databases, and helping readers discover your work. Keywords should reflect the paper’s main concepts in terms that both human researchers and search algorithms use. Below is a methodical approach:

1. Extract Core Concepts from Your Title & Abstract.
• Identify Primary Terms. Look at your working title and abstract. List the 3–5 main concepts (e.g., “emotional intelligence,” “crisis decision-making,” “ICU nurses”).
• Check Word Frequency. Use a simple word-count tool to see which significant terms appear most often in your abstract. Frequent recurrence signals importance.
2. Consult Authoritative Thesauri & Controlled Vocabularies.
• MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) for Health Sciences. If you’re in medicine or nursing, search for the closest MeSH terms (e.g., “Emotional Intelligence” and “Intensive Care Units”).
• APA Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms for psychology research (e.g., “emotional intelligence [EI]” is a standardized term).
• ERIC Thesaurus for education papers, IEEE Taxonomy for engineering, etc. Controlled vocabularies ensure your keywords match indexing terms that librarians and databases use.
3. Leverage Academic Databases for Keyword Ideas.
• Google Scholar & PubMed:
• Search for your tentative title and scan “Similar Articles.” Note the keywords listed in those papers (often near the abstract).
• Check the “Details” or “Keywords” field in top-ranked relevant articles.
• Journal Author Guidelines: Look at the instructions for authors in your target journal—many journals specify a maximum of 6–8 keywords. They often provide sample keyword sets from previously published issues.
4. Balance Specificity & Breadth.
• Broad Terms: General concepts that ensure discoverability (e.g., “Emotional Intelligence,” “Nursing”).
• Specific Terms: Narrow topics or methods that target specialized audiences (e.g., “ICU Nurse Decision-Making,” “Crisis Management Training”).
• Health Science Example:
• Emotional Intelligence
• Intensive Care Units
• Decision Making
• Nursing, Critical Care
• Crisis Intervention
• The mix ensures your paper is found by both broad and niche searches.
5. Use Keyword Research Tools (if Applicable).
• Google Trends & Keyword Planner: For topics with crossover (e.g., “nutrition,” “diabetes”), see which related search terms have high volume.
• Academic-Specific Tools (Publons, Dimensions): Some subscription-based platforms provide “keyword analytics” showing how often certain terms appear in recently published literature.
6. Create a Preliminary Keyword List & Test It.
• Compile 8–10 candidate keywords.
• Run a quick search (in Google Scholar or your institution’s library portal) for each. See how many hits you get and whether the returned articles match your topic. Discard too-broad or too-narrow terms.
7. Refine Keywords According to Journal Guidelines.
• Maximum Count & Format: Journals often limit to 6 keywords, separated by semicolons (e.g., “Emotional Intelligence; Intensive Care Units; Decision Making; Crisis Management; Nurse Training; Delphi Method”).
• Order Matters: Place the most important or widely used term first (e.g., “Emotional Intelligence”) because some indexing databases give greater weight to the first few keywords.
8. Include Acronyms & Synonyms (When Relevant).
• If “EI” is a commonly used acronym in your field, include both “Emotional Intelligence” and “EI.”
• For “Intensive Care Unit,” also include “ICU.” But ensure you don’t exceed the journal’s keyword limit—sometimes replacing a term with its acronym is sufficient if guidelines allow ambiguity.
9. Revisit Keywords After Peer Review.
• If reviewers suggest adding or removing certain focal points (e.g., they argue “Crisis Intervention” is too general), adjust before final submission.
• Check publication proofs—some journals allow tweaking keywords if space permits.