Miller Library LibGuides: *Getting Started on Your Research: Developing Your Topic

Remember, research is exploration.

Before you dive in, take a moment to develop a research strategy:

Understand the assignment
1. Carefully read it over
2. Ask any questions about unclear areas
Learn more about your topic
1. Use reputable websites and library resources for background information on your topic
Identify concepts to explore in your searching
1. Note any specific phrases or areas you'd like to explore further
Craft your research question
1. Remember this can change as you learn more!

Recommended sources for background information:

Credo Reference
It is an online reference library that provides access to a large number of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and other reference books. Subjects covered include art, biography, history, literature, music, religion, and science and technology.
CQ Researcher
A database of in-depth, authoritative reports on a full range of political and social-policy issues extending back to 1923. Each report is footnoted and includes an overview, background section, chronology, bibliography and debate-style pro-con feature, plus tools to study the evolution of the topic over time.
Oxford Reference
Brings together digitized entries from Oxford's Dictionaries, Companions and Encyclopedias, spanning multiple subject areas.

Full List of Reference Databases

If you are starting with a broad idea or subject, you can gradually narrow down your focus by answering the following questions:

WHAT?

What is your topic?
What other issues or events are similar or related to your topic?

WHO?

Who is affected by your topic?
Who is involved?

WHY?

Why does this topic matter to you?
Why should it matter to others?
- Think about society, technology, health, culture, politics, economics, etc.

We conduct research to answer questions and solve problems.

Use this three-step formula from The Craft of Research* when developing your research topic:

1. Topic: I am studying ______________________
2. Question: because I want to find out what/why/how ________________________
3. Significance: in order to help my reader understand ________________________

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J., & FitzGerald, W. T. (2016). The craft of research (Fourth edition). The University of Chicago Press. p. 10, 32