Library 101: Topic Selection

Topic selection is the first step of the research process, and it can be intimidating, so it's worth looking at the process in more detail: 

Review Assignment Requirements

• The first thing to do is check the assignment for requirements for your topic.
• Do you have a list of suggested topics?
• Are you supposed to refer to class readings or incorporate a topic discussed in class?
• Is there a topic covered in class that you liked, found interesting, or really understood?
• Is there a topic you feel strongly about or want to learn more about? Is there a topic related to your field of study or a hobby?

Chose Topic

• At this stage, it can be a broad topic

Browse Resources / Gather Background Information

• This is where you do a general google search, check Wikipedia, search Credo Reference, etc.
• What are the big names in the field?
• What are the big current events in the field?
• Is there a controversy, interesting issue, recent event, or area with a lot of research or argument?
  • NOTE: save those big names and current events, and any commonly accepted terms and terminology, along with titles of books, movies, or articles that you find at this stage. These will be good search terms to use later.
• Does it look like there will be enough sources for this paper?

Develop Research Question or Thesis

• Based on the sources you’re finding and the sense you’re getting of the field, come up with a more narrowed and specific thesis.

The topic selection stage is a good point to start thinking of search terms. 

You will not know exactly what search terms to use when you start looking for sources for your paper, but the work you do at the topic selection stage can help you think of a list of possible terms.  

Pay attention to the names and terms you find as you explore your topic - these will make good search terms to use later, as you look for more specific sources. 

Also, pay attention to the titles of books and articles you see referenced or mentioned at this stage - they may be very useful as sources in their own right later in your process. 

Here is an example of how you might look for search terms as you go:

If I think I might want to write my paper on Grizzly Bears and their interactions with humans, and I'm doing some general background reading by reading the Wikipedia page on Grizzly Bears, I would make a note of any terms I see: 

"problem bears," "aversive conditioning," "bear awareness programs," "hanging food in bear country," "bear canisters," and "Timothy Treadwell"

as I read - these will all be search terms I can try later. I would also scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to the reference section, to see if there are any sources cited there that I could use.

Other variations to explore when trying to come up with search terms include: 

• Synonyms 
• Common and region-specific terms
• Geographic terms
• scientific names  
• a broader term than the one you're using
• a more narrow term than the one you're using 

Combining multiple terms in one search can be a good way to get more specific results, but start with a broader search before you start adding additional terms, and if you start getting no results, go back to one or two terms.