Below are websites that can help you come up with a research topic and keywords. Consider giving one of these a try if you like the idea of creating your own mind map of your research topic.
Choosing a topic is the first, and often the most difficult, phase of the research project.
Ask yourself and make sure you can answer:
For example, for the question: Would an assault weapons ban reduce gun violence in America?
Sample keywords are: assault weapons, gun violence, America
For example, for the question: How has global warming impacted climate change?
Sample keywords are: global warming, climate change
Synonyms are: Earth's temperature, Earth's atmosphere, environmental change, environmental crisis, greenhouse gases
This video from Douglas College Library is a great introduction to concept mapping. The video also shows how concept maps can help you refine your topic and start building your keywords for searching library resources.
Our Credo Reference database has a mind map tool that might help you brainstorm topic ideas. On the Credo Reference homepage, enter a word or phrase related to a topic of interest into the search box and run your search. On the right, you'll see a Mind Map for your topic, which can give you suggestions for related concepts and topics. You can click any of the words or phrases on the map, and see a new map about that concept.
Our Credo Reference database also has a section called Topic Pages. Enter a term in the Quick Find box to see if a topic page exists for your subject.
Usually major events, movements, and people have topic pages. Topic pages list out other related terms and topics for your subject, with links to relevant articles. In the Search Other Sites box, you can click on other databases and automatically run searches in them for articles on your topic.
Carlyle Campbell Library
Meredith College
3800 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
919-760-8532