| Research path: choose a topic
Choosing a topic is the first step in the research that you will do for your paper or project. You will need to find one that has plenty of information written about it so that you may select what best fits your interests.
- Understand the assignment
- Select a topic that interests you
- Clarify your research question
- Use key terms
- Do a preliminary search
Understand the assignment | back to top
It is important that you understand the assignment before starting your research. Look closely at the instructions you have been given. Is it an assigned topic or can it be one of your own choosing? How many pages should it be? Are you required to use certain types of materials such as scholarly articles? Are you limited to a certain time period or geographic region? If you have any questions, please clarify the assignment with your professor.
Select a topic that interests you | back to top
If you have some flexibility in choosing your topic, choose one that you find interesting and that you want to know more about. Please see a librarian if you are having trouble defining your search terms. If you need ideas try:
- reading articles in magazines and newspapers
- searching for ideas on the internet using Google or Yahoo (remember to evaluate web sites to find reliable information)
- browsing the shelves of the library or a bookstore
Example:
Broad topic: pets
Narrow topic: pet therapy
Narrower topic: pet therapy and the chronically ill
Clarify your research question | back to top
Your chosen topic will possibly be broad as well as general. It will be helpful to focus your research if you ask yourself some questions. What are the various components or issues involved? What is the question that you are most interested in researching?
Example:
Topic: pet therapy
Research question: Can companion animals improve health?
Use key terms | back to top
Jot down the main terms that relate to your research question. Include both broader and narrower terms. These terms are called keywords and they are the words you will use when you do your research using the internet and the library databases as well as printed handbooks or encyclopedias. It is helpful to keep track of these in your notes and add terms that work well to your list as you come upon them in your research.
Example:
Research question: Can companion animals improve health?
Key terms: pets, pet therapy, companion animals, therapeutic use, health, chronic illness
Do a preliminary search | back to top
After you have looked at your assignment, picked a topic you like, asked yourself a question about it and put together a list of important words that can be used in your research, do a quick search to see if you are going to get the materials you need. Try searching the library catalog, a general database and a specialized encyclopedia. You might need to try different keywords or to broaden or narrow your topic and this preliminary work will help you see if all is going well or if you need to fine tune your search.
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