Remember the fairy tale about Goldilocks? One bowl of porridge was too hot and another too cold, but the third was just right. With research topics, a similar idea applies. You want a topic that's neither too broad nor too narrow, but just right to research. You may not know whether your topic is "just right" until you begin searching, but the tips below will help improve your odds that you'll start with a good topic.
Once you start searching, you may need to rethink your topic based on what you're finding. Don't be afraid to change or modify your topic if your initial topic isn't panning out!
The process of refining your topic often involves narrowing a topic that is too broad, or broadening a topic that is too narrow.
If your topic is too broad, you will retrieve too much information to wade through. Try to narrow your topic's scope.
Consider these questions to help you narrow your topic:
What do you already know about the subject?
Is there a specific time period you could focus on?
Is there a geographic region or country on which you would like to focus on specifically?
Is there a particular aspect of this topic that interests you? For example, historical influence, sociological aspects, psychological angles, specific groups or individuals involved in the topic.
Another way to narrow your topic is to try some searching, look for interesting angles on your topic in your search results, and search those concepts as new keywords.
If your topic is too narrow, you will find too little information to write a paper about it. Try to broaden your topic's scope.
If your topic is so specific that you can't find enough sources about it, consider these questions:
Could you add elements to your topic for examination?
Could you think more broadly about this topic? Give thought to its wider implications.
Are you focusing on too specific a time period, geographic area, or group of people? For example, instead of migrant farmers in North Carolina, you could look at migrant farmers in the South.
What other issues are involved in this topic?
You can also try looking in your course readings, checking on your assignment description, or talking with your professor or librarian to think of ways to broaden your topic.
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Meredith College
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Raleigh, NC 27607
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