How can I Narrow my Research Topic

PURPOSE Remember your PURPOSE O Demonstration – How to do something O Description – Describe a person, place, event, place, experience O Explanation – Make a process, concept, idea, belief, etc., clear to the audience

Let’s see how this works with a few examples: TOPIC: Video Games TOPIC: Eating Disorders How long would it take us to discuss these? Are they manageable in 3-5 minutes? Thus, these topics are too broad/general We need to narrow them – make more specific

When your research topic is too broad, ask yourself these questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? A combination of these questions will lead you to a manageable research focus!

RESEARCH TIP! O These questions can also become SEARCH TERMS! O We will practice as we brainstorm….

Who can I write about What group(s) can I focus on? Who is affected? Consider demographics!

TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Populations (other demographics, as well) Age Gender Race or Ethnicity NEW TOPIC: Eating disorders in elderly females Education Level

TOPIC: Video Games Populations Age Gender Race or Ethnicity NEW TOPIC: Video Game use among female graduate students Education Level

Consider Your Topics O Talk with each other and send some ideas in via Polleverywhere.com O One person can text message

Who O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “Who” section on your handout

RESEARCH PRACTICE! O Try an “ALL TEXT” search O Produces articles with search terms ANYWHERE in the document

O What categories are there within my area of interest? O What types of my topic can I discuss? O What are the specific groups within my area of interest?

TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Types Anorexia Bulimia Compulsive eating NEW TOPIC: Anorexia in elderly females

TOPIC: Video Games Types RPG 1 st Person Shooter MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing games) NEW TOPIC: Role Playing Games in Elementary Education

Consider Your Topics O Talk with each other and send some ideas in via Polleverywhere.com O One person can text message

What O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “What” section on your handout

RESEARCH PRACTICE! O Try a “TITLE” search O Produces articles with search terms SPECIFICALLY in the TITLE of the article

O What are the timeframes that I can consider? O What “periods” of time could I look at within my area of interest? O What contexts can I consider within my area of interest?

TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Timeframes Current or historical view Period of life NEW TOPIC: Bulimia in middle- aged females

TOPIC: Video Games Timeframes Current or historical view Period of life NEW TOPIC: Video Game use of middle-aged females

Consider Your Topics O Talk with each other and send some ideas in via Polleverywhere.com O One person can text message

When O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “When” section on your handout

RESEARCH PRACTICE! O Try an “ABSTRACT” search O Produces articles with search terms SPECIFICALLY in the ABSTRACT of the article O Abstract = summary of the article

O What are the places that I can consider within my area of interest? O What are the specific locations that can be associated with my area of interest?

TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Places States Regions Countries NEW TOPIC: Anorexia in Australian women

TOPIC: Video Games Places States Regions Countries NEW TOPIC: Video Game use by Vietnamese women

Consider Your Topics O Talk with each other and send some ideas in via Polleverywhere.com O One person can text message

Where O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “Where” section on your handout

RESEARCH PRACTICE! O Try a “SUBJECT TERMS” search O Produces articles with search terms SPECIFICALLY in the SEARCH TERMS specified within the article O Be careful!

O Why is my area of interest worth investigation? O Why is my area of interest worth reporting?

TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Evaluate Causes Treatments Outcomes NEW TOPIC: Successful methods for treatment of compulsive eating

TOPIC: Video Games Evaluate Causes Treatments Outcomes NEW TOPIC: Known causes of video game addiction

Consider Your Topics O Talk with each other and send some ideas in via Polleverywhere.com O One person can text message

Why O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “Why” section on your handout

RESEARCH PRACTICE! O Try an “AUTHOR” search O Produces articles with search terms as the AUTHOR of the article O HUGE TIP!!! O HUGE TIP!!! LOOK AT REFERENCE PAGES!

Combine any number of elements that you derive from asking these questions until you find an interesting topic to research. Some examples: Causes and treatment of anorexia in college athletes Prevalence of bulimia in teen-age males in the United States Changes in treatment for compulsive overeaters, 1950-present.

NOW: O Decide on your “tentative” topic O Lay out some search term combinations O Submit your “topic form” before leaving class O Start researching!