Choosing a topic that interests you is an important element of the research process. Once you have a general topic you need to consider some additional questions to narrow down a topic to a workable question to be answered in your research.
Selecting a topic is one of the most important steps of your research. Defining and refining your topic is an ongoing process. Be prepared to adjust the focus of your topic as you gather more information.
These are some general guidelines to follow:
Topic: Drinking on campus
Research Question: What effect does alcohol have on college students?
Key Concepts: alcohol AND college students
Related terms: binge drinking adolescents
Research Worksheet
1. What is your topic?
2. Write down the research question you want to answer regarding your topic and underline key concepts.
3. Write the key concepts down at the top of each column and brainstorm other terms. Try to use broader, narrower, and related terms.
Keyword __________________ AND Keyword ___________________
Related Term __________________ Related Term ___________________
__________________ ___________________
4. Use the terms you identified above to search in the library databases. Write down the database you searched and the key words that provided the best results.
Database: Search terms:
Database: Search terms: