Stecab Publishing

Writing Keywords for an Academic Research Article

Keywords play a crucial role in enhancing the discoverability, indexing, and searchability of your research article within academic databases and online platforms. They provide a concise summary of the main topics, concepts, variables, and methods discussed in your study, enabling readers to locate and access your article more effectively. Here are essential guidelines to consider when selecting keywords for your academic journal research article:

1. Relevance and Specificity

1.1. Choose Relevant Terms: Select keywords that accurately reflect the main focus and scope of your research. Identify key concepts, variables, methods, and theories that are central to your study.
1.2. Be Specific: Use specific terms rather than broad or general phrases. This helps target your article to the appropriate audience and enhances the precision of search results.

2. Variety and Diversity

2.1. Include Different Types of Keywords: Incorporate a mix of general terms, specific terms, and phrases that capture different aspects of your research. This variety ensures comprehensive coverage and increases the likelihood of your article appearing in various search queries.
2.2. Use Synonyms and Related Terms: Include synonyms or related terms that readers might use when searching for information on your topic. This expands the reach of your article and accommodates variations in terminology across different disciplines.

3. Strategic Selection

3.1. Prioritize Core Concepts: Focus on keywords that represent the core themes, variables, hypotheses, or findings of your research. These keywords should align closely with the content and contributions of your article.
3.2. Consider Audience and Discipline: Tailor your keywords to the specific audience and discipline of the journal. Use terms that are commonly used and recognized within your field to maximize relevance and impact.

4. Avoid Redundancy and Overlap

4.1. Avoid Repetition: Ensure that keywords do not duplicate terms already mentioned in the title or abstract of your article. Use keywords to complement and expand upon the information provided in these sections.
4.2. Be Concise: Limit the number of keywords to 3-5 terms or phrases. While some journals may allow more, focusing on a smaller set of highly relevant keywords improves clarity and effectiveness.

5. Formatting and Style

5.1. Use Capitalize Each Word: Keywords are typically written in capitalize each word except preposition, conjunction, and vowel.
5.2. Separate Keywords: Separate individual keywords or phrases with commas to distinguish them clearly. This standard formatting practice helps indexing systems and search engines parse the keywords correctly.

6. Review and Refinement

6.1. Review for Accuracy: Double-check the accuracy and appropriateness of each keyword. Ensure that each keyword effectively represents an important aspect of your research without misrepresenting the content.
6.2. Update Keywords as Needed: Revise keywords if there are significant changes or updates to your research during the revision or resubmission process. Keywords should accurately reflect the final version of your article.