Brainstorm Your Topic
Locate Background Info
Develop Search Strategy
Get Help
Brainstorm About Your Topic
I have a topic but I don't know where to start
A quick way to get the ball rolling on your research is to ask yourself the following five questions. Make a note of your answers--this is the beginning of your research road map
- What do you already know about your topic?
- What do you want to know about your topic?
- Write down as many keywords as you can think of that are related to your topic. (You will use these when you search the online catalog and journal databases)
- Does your topic fit into a specific discipline - if so, what? (See box below)
- What research tools does the Library offer in this subject? (See below)
Social Sciences
Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Business etc.Sciences
Geology, Engineering, Biology, Computer Science, etc.Humanities
Art, Music, Literature, Dance, Theater, etc.
The Library's resources are also organized this way! Identify some databases or subject guides that might be helpful for your topic:
Databases by Subject | Online Subject Guides | Subject Location Guide
If you're still looking for a topic and aren't sure where to start, here are some places to get your ideas flowing:
- Browse recent journals in your subject area. For example, if you're taking a psychology class and can do a paper on any psychology topic, you might want to look at recent journals published in the field of psychology to see what topics are hot right now. Current issues of journals are kept on the 3rd floor of the library, on the south side near the curved window. They are filed by subject using the Library of Congress call number system.
- The Opposing Viewpoints book series is an excellent resource for browsing for controversial issues. View PSU Library's collection of Opposing Viewpoints
- Check out some online guides to term paper topics. Here are two excellent sites for topics:
Hot Topics from the University Library at California State University, Long Beach
Hot Topics from O'Keefe Library, St. Ambrose University, Best Information on the Net
- Use the "Hot Topics" function of some of the Library's databases:
Hot Topics through Cambridge Scientific Abstracts provide "comprehensive information on current issues with an overview of the subject, key citations with abstracts, and links to web sites." New topics are added monthly. Subject areas covered include: Biomedical, Social Sciences/Humanities, Environmental Policies and Issues.
Congressional Universe Hot Topics provides congressional and news information gathered about selected current legislation: Hot Bills Enacted This Congress, Hot Bills Under Consideration,
Hot Topics (news articles about other current governmental topics).CQ Researcher is a collection of full-text documents, charts, and illustrations about current issues.
Two key sources of background information on your topic are:
- Your course materials
Be certain to review the bibliographies in your textbook or other course readings.
- Reference Books and Other Reference Sources
The Library's Reference collection is located on the 2nd floor of Millar Library. The Reference desk is staffed by Librarians weekdays, evenings and weekends. Please ask if you would like help locating reference materials on your topic.The Library also provides access to a number of online reference sources. The "Reference Shelf" link found in the top navigation bar throughout this guide links you to online encyclopedias, almanacs, and general reference sources.
Subject specific online reference sources include:
Grove's Dictionary of Music
Grove's Dictionary of Art
Developing a research strategy means developing some initial parameters to your research. You may stray far and wide from you initial search strategy, but it will help you get started by narrowing down your topic to a reasonable size. Here are some things to consider when analyzing your topic:
- Determine the Scope of your topic: Is it too broad for a short paper? Too narrow for a long paper?
- Should you narrow the scope to a specific aspect, set of aspects, or time period?
- Should you broaden the scope by selecting a wider range of topical aspects?
- What is the time frame/dates for the topic?
- What is the geographic area for your topic? Is it local, national, international?
Once you've answered these questions you will want to:
1. Collect background information
2. Look to see if there is an online subject guide
3. Check the catalog for books
4. Check the databases for articles
5. Based on what you've found, revise your search strategy.
The PSU Library's 2nd floor Research and Learning Center is the best place to talk to librarians about your research or locating items. Librarians staff the desk during the following hours:
Monday-Thursday 8:00 am - 9:30 pm
Friday 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 - 7:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am - 9:00 pmYou can also e-mail a question to our Ask A Librarian service, and you will get a response from a specialist in your discipline within 24 hours.
Feel free to call and make an appointment with your librarian to meet and discuss your research in depth. Librarians make phone and office appointments both during the day and some evenings and weekends. To find out which librarian to talk to about your topic, check out the list of Subject Specialists.
Last updated 10/28.05 RS