These slides provide an example of a mind-map, demonstrate how one would break down their research question into keywords for searching, and illustrate how you might expand your research by using the information provided by one really good article.

1. LGBT
Issues
Family
Bisex-
uality
Health
Community
Outreach
In what ways do
bisexuals face
discrimination within the
LGBT community itself?
(Does “biphobia” exist?)
MENTAL
HEALTH
How do Pride
Centers educate
communities
regarding LGBT
issues?
Are depression levels
and/or suicide rates
higher among LGBT
people than
heteronormative people?
PHYSICAL
HEALTH
Are there health
disparities between gay
and heterosexual men?
SAME-SEX
PARENTS
Are children of same-sex
parents higher-achieving
in school/academically?
COMING
OUT
How does a LGBT
person’s coming out
affect family dynamics?
Do trends exist?

2. LGBT Issues
LGBT issues
AND
Family dynamics
LGBT issues
AND
Family dynamics
AND
Coming out
How does a LGBT’s person
coming out affect
family dynamics?
Do trends
exist?

3. How does an LGBT person’s coming out affect family dynamics? Do
trends exist?
MAJOR
CONCEPT
S
AND AND
OR OR OR
RELATED
CONCEPTS
AND AND
OR OR OR
BROADER
CONCEPTS
AND AND
OR OR OR
SYNONYMS AND AND
LGBT COMING
OUT
FAMILY
DYNAMICS
“GENDER IDENTITY”,
HETEROSEXUAL*,
HETERONORMATIV*
“SEXUAL ORIENTATION”,
“SEXUAL IDENTITY”
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER, TRANS,
HOMOSEXUAL
N/A “FAMIL*
RELATIONS*”
FAMILY,
RELATIONSHIP,
COMMUNICATION
FRIENDSHIP
DYNAMICS
“IN THE CLOSET”
“SELF-DISCLOSURE”

4. Going Deeper with Your Research
Breshears, D. & Lubbe-De Beer, C. (2014). A qualitative analysis of adult
children’s advice for parents coming out to their children. Professional
Psychology: Research & Practice, 45(4), 231-238.
Subjects: Homosexual Parents; Parent Child Communication; Self Disclosure;
Sexual Orientation; Lesbianism; Male Homosexuality
Abstract: …In this exploratory study, 20 adults who remember a parent
coming out as lesbian or gay were interviewed about the process surrounding
their parents’ revelation. We asked participants to reflect on their own
experiences and offer advice for parents who are preparing to come out...
1. What terms do these authors
use to describe their topic?
Look for terms that you can use
for searching the databases.
2. What else has the
author published on this
topic? Search for articles
by this author in
databases.
3. Does the journal look like a publication that
might have more articles on your topic? Try
searching for articles from that specific journal.
4. What sources did this author cite? Look at the
bibliography or footnotes for citations that look
promising and check to see if the library has it.
5. Who cited this article?
Use Google Scholar to
find other related
research and check to
see if the library has it.