If your research topic is too broad, you will find too much information and will need to narrow the scope. Take a few minutes to think about your topic . . .
Example: A broad topic might be eating disorders, but you could narrow it by focusing on a specific eating disorder in a specific class of people.
If you are having difficulty finding enough information, there could be many reasons. Start by thinking about the following:
Example: Trying to write a paper about drug abuse among college hockey players in Boston may be too narrow. You could consider broadening your topic to look at drug abuse among college athletes.
Once you have a topic in mind, it is time to start identifying keywords and phrases that describe your topic. The terms that you come up with can be used to search in the online catalog as well as the library's online databases. For example:
Research question: Does watching violent movies affect teenagers?
Identify the most important concepts in your question: movies - violence - teenagers.
Brainstorm alternate keywords and phrases.
Keyword 1: Movies |
Keyword 2: Teenagers |
Keyword 3: Violence |
Synonyms & related words Films |
Synonyms & related words Teens Adolescents Young adults |
Synonyms & related words Aggression |
Once you have identified your keywords, you are ready to string them together to locate articles and books.
If you are having trouble coming up with search terms, see a reference librarian who can help you find the best terms to use to find the information you need to write your paper.
Following are some strategies for coming up with keywords: