Online Class Library Research Guide: Topic
Selection

Sources listed below are good for finding topics and background information on topics.

Choosing a topic can be challenging especially if your instructor gives you an "open topic" to write on anything...

A good topic is one that:

• Is interesting
• You want to know more about
• Is intellectually engaging
• You heard in the news
• You read in your textbook and other class readings
• Your instructor mentioned

The sources listed in the first column can also help you find topics.

Students often start with broad topics such as Global Warming, Immigration, Eating Disorders, Environment, etc.

Narrow your topic into something manageable:

• Create a concept map  (see video on the left) -- A concept map is a visual display of concepts and relationships among ideas
     Concept Map Tool: Bubbl.us
     Keyword Map: A keyword map for the whole Internet---use it to generate related concepts
• Think of narrower facets, different angles to your topic
• Read encyclopedia articles -- paragraph headers are often narrower topics
• Think of Who (population); What (types); When (time frame); Where (Places); Why (evaluate) questions


• Example: Eating Disorders 
  WHO---Age, Gender, Race, Ethnicity
  WHAT---Anorexia, bulimia, Compulsive Eating
  WHEN---Current/Historical
  WHERE---States/Regions
  WHY---Causes, Treatment, outcomes

Formulating a research question can be the hardest part of the process.

A research question is what you really want to find/discover. It is a clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question around which you center your research. It guides your literature search.

State your research topic as a question.

Sample Research Question: Is there a relationship between stress and eating disorders among college students?

Remember:  Once you have a research question, you are not stuck with it.  You can adjust, refocus your research question once you start researching.