Library Sources: Getting StartedVincent P. Tinerella

The Research ProcessTen Basic Steps

Select a Topic healthTerm Paper TopicsAbortion Affirmative Action AIDS Animal RightsAnthraxAssisted SuicideAsteroidsBlackoutCapital PunishmentChild AbuseCloningConjoined TwinsDiabetesDrunk DrivingEaster IslandEating DisordersE-mail SpamEmpire State BuildingGlobal WarmingGangs Gender Issues Health CareHolocaust Immigration IslamScienceA topic is general. It is a category, frequently expressed in a single word or phrase, such as “alcoholism" or “teenage mothers.” A topic is a good starting point, but by itself, it is usually too broad, and so it must be refined. TechnologyPoliticsReligionBusiness

Abortion

Affirmative Action

AIDS

Animal Rights

Anthrax

Assisted Suicide

Asteroids

Blackout

Capital Punishment

Child Abuse

Cloning

Conjoined Twins

Diabetes

Drunk Driving

Easter Island

Eating Disorders

E-mail Spam

Empire State Building

Global Warming

Gangs

Gender Issues Health Care

Holocaust Immigration Islam

Ask Yourself Questions About Your Topic:Is the topic of interest to me?Is my topic appropriate for my audience? Is it relevant to my course? How much or how little do I know about it?

Is the topic of interest to me?

Is my topic appropriate for my audience? Is it relevant to my course?

How much or how little do I know about it?

FORMULATE A RESEARCH QUESTION The Q the researcher asks that guides his or her inquiry into the topic. A good research question asks a clear, concise question and helps you keep a tight focus on your topic. A good RQ is broad enough to allow you to find enough material, but narrow enough to fit within the size and time constraints of your paper. Choose a RQ worth arguing about or exploring (So what?).

EvidenceFind evidence to support your research question

Types of Evidence

SourcesData or information that has not been analyzed or evaluatedData that has been analyzed Primary Sources Secondary Sources booksarticlesreviewstextbooksbibliographiesWeb sites census data laws diaries speeches autobiographies tech reports transcripts e-mail musical scores letters

Tools of the Trade

(To narrow and refine topic)

Narrow by ViewpointResearchQuestionViewpoint LimitersTopicWhat is the constitutionality of Internet filtering technology in public libraries?Internet SecurityCulturalSocialLegalMedicalEthicalBiologicalPsychologicalEconomicPoliticalPhilosophicalVitaminsWill a regimen of vitamin therapy prevent heart disease?Cell PhonesShould laws be enacted to prevent cell phone use in automobiles?

Cultural

Social

Legal

Medical

Ethical

Biological

Psychological

Economic

Political

Philosophical

Narrow by PopulationTopicResearch Question

Research QuestionTopicNarrow by TimeCenturydateCurrent TrendsYear Decade Future

Narrow by PlacePLACE LIMITERSCountryContinentRegionCityState PlaceOrganizationInstitution Steroids in athleticsObesityHow prevalent is steroid use among NCAA college baseball players?Is fast-food to blame for the rising obesity rates in the United States?

Country

Continent

Region

City

State

Place

Organization

Institution

LimitersPlaceTime TopicPopulationViewpointResearch Question

Topic: ManagementNarrowed Research QuestionLimiting CriteriaLimitersViewpointManagement practices to eliminate the glass ceiling “glass ceiling”PlaceAmerican corporations; Fortune 500 companiesU.S.TimeCurrent initiatives?PresentWomen managersPopulationWomenWhat current, effective management practices have American Fortune 500 companies initiated to eliminate the “glass ceiling” for their women managers?

AVOID RQ’S THAT ARE: TOO BROADTOO NARROWUNANSWERABLE

TOO BROAD

TOO NARROW

UNANSWERABLE

IT’S EASY TO REMEMBERPOPULATIONASPECT-VIEWPOINTTIMEPLACESO WHAT??????WHOWHATWHENWHEREWHY

POPULATION

ASPECT-VIEWPOINT

TIME

PLACE

SO WHAT??????

WHO

WHAT

WHEN

WHERE

WHY

The overwhelming majority of scholarsand researchers publish their work in academic journals available from subscription bibliographic databases acccessiblefrom the library homepageNOTFREE on the Internet.