Choose a Topic
Choosing a topic is the first step in the research
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:
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? Select
a topic that interests you:
If you have some flexibility in choosing your
topic, choose one that you find interesting and that you want to
know more about. This will help keep you going. If you need ideas
try:
- reading articles in magazines and newspapers
- searching for ideas on the internet using Google
or Yahoo
- browsing the shelves of the library or a bookstore
- use topic finding aids in the CQ
RESEARCHER online
EXAMPLE:
Broad Topic: Pets
Narrow Topic: Pet Therapy
Narrower Topic: Pet therapy and the chronically ill |
Clarify your research
question:
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:
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:
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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