LibGuides: Research: Choosing & Refining Your Topic

Research

You have a research project !

Now what?

Choosing a Topic

Step 1: Topic Selection

Choosing your topic is one of the most important steps of your research assignment.

Explore your Research Ideas

First check the assignment requirements. Make sure you can meet those requirements with the topic you pick.

Then Ask yourself

Is my topic researchable?

illustration of man on path confused where to go What am I interested in?

What do I need to learn?

Other considerations:

Do I know enough about my topic?

Where do I find information about my topic?

Write Down All of Your Ideas

Use one of these activities to help

Listing: List all the ideas for your research assignment. Good and Bad: write everything! Group similar words together, add ideas.

Freewriting: Write nonstop for 10 minutes. Review your writing and highlight useful information.

Clustering or Mind Map: Write a brief explanation or Ask a question. Circle main concepts. Draw three or more lines and add corresponding ideas.

Questioning: Write out: “Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?” then write your answers for each.

Topic Development

Step 2: Do Some Background Research

Remember this is a dynamic process so your research question and scope will adjust to the information you begin to gather.

Find & learn:

a definition
a statistic
other general information on your topic

This is only a starting point. You will follow-up by verifying with other credible sources and experts.

Gather information to inform your topic:

talk to specialist, like your instructor or TA
explore Subject Guides
do some beginning research

Try these databases:

Credo General Reference This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
Dictionaries, specialized encyclopedias, quotations, thesauri, and bilingual dictionaries.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
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1923-
In depth research on controversial topics ranging from social issues to environment, health, education, science, and technology issues.
Balanced information on all sides of an issue, including comments from experts in the field, numerous charts and graphs, a pro-con feature, a chronology, a lengthy bibliography for additional research, and a list of contacts are included in each report.
Sage eReference Collection This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
40 online encyclopedias in the social sciences, education and history.
An online collection of more than 40 reference titles from Sage Publications. Reference titles cover a variety of subjects including history, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, political science, communications, social work, education and business.

North Carolina Sate University Libraries created a video to explain the importance of finding background information for your topic.

Topic Narrowing

Step 3: Consider the Scope of Your Topic

You want a research topic that is not too broad or too narrow, but just right.

It may take many attempts, updates and changes. That’s part of the research process.

Too Broad?

Finding too much information? Your topic may be too broad and you may need to make it more specific. Consider limiting using one or more of the following aspects:

time period
location
event
population

Too Narrow?

Can't find enough information? If you find that you can't find enough evidence for your topic, you might want to broaden it by considering:

expanding the time period
increasing locations
exploring related issues
considering historical contexts

Too Broad	Too Narrow
Food Safety	History of organic food labeling of pork products in Portland, Oregon
History of U.S. presidency	Women’s rights in Morpeth England during July 1732

Questions?

Need clarification? Got questions? Ask Us! via chat or text.

Or make an appointment for a one-on-one research consultation.

Research Process

Get more tips about the research process in this short video created by UNLV Libraries.

Research: Choosing & Refining Your Topic