def METHOD_NAME(list_of_keys, search_key):
    """
    Perform a Linear search.
    Returns the number of comparisons required.
    """
    length_of_list = len(list_of_keys)
    if length_of_list == 0:
        print("List of keys not found.")
        return 0
    key_comparisons_made = 0
    search_key_index = 0
    while search_key_index < length_of_list:
        key_comparisons_made += 1
        if list_of_keys[search_key_index] == search_key:
            return key_comparisons_made
        search_key_index += 1
    return key_comparisons_made