Post on 23-Dec-2015
How can I Narrow my Research
Topic
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!
A.
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
PopulationsAge
Gender
Race or Ethnicity
NEW TOPIC:
Video Game use among female graduate students
Education Level
Consider Your TopicsO Talk with each other and send some
ideas in via Polleverywhere.comO One person can text message
O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “Who” section on your handout
RESEARCH PRACTICE!
O Try an “ALL TEXT” searchO 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?
B.
TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS
Types
Anorexia
Bulimia
Compulsive eating
NEW TOPIC:
Anorexia in elderly females
TOPIC: Video Games
Types
RPG
1st Person Shooter
MMORPG(Massively multiplayer online role-playing games)
NEW TOPIC:
Role Playing Games in Elementary Education
Consider Your TopicsO Talk with each other and send some
ideas in via Polleverywhere.comO One person can text message
O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “What” section on your handout
RESEARCH PRACTICE!
O Try a “TITLE” searchO 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?
C.
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 TopicsO Talk with each other and send some
ideas in via Polleverywhere.comO One person can text message
O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “When” section on your handout
RESEARCH PRACTICE!
O Try an “ABSTRACT” searchO Produces articles with search terms
SPECIFICALLY in the ABSTRACT of the articleO 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?
D.
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 TopicsO Talk with each other and send some
ideas in via Polleverywhere.comO One person can text message
O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “Where” section on your handout
RESEARCH PRACTICE!
O Try a “SUBJECT TERMS” searchO 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?
E.
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 TopicsO Talk with each other and send some
ideas in via Polleverywhere.comO One person can text message
O Consider YOUR area of interest and complete the “Why” section on your handout
RESEARCH PRACTICE!
O Try an “AUTHOR” searchO Produces articles with search terms as the
AUTHOR of the articleO 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” topicO Lay out some search term
combinationsO Submit your “topic form” before
leaving classO Start researching!