Library Research

Topic Identification

Though it may appear obvious, all research projects begin by properly identifying a topic. The topic itself should be presented as a question. For instance, if the researcher is interested in determining the types of presentations that college students take most seriously in online formatted courses, he or she might write, “What online presentation formats do college students take most seriously in online coursework?” This permits the researcher to identify keywords and concepts to use for search terms as he or she begins the research process. Should one struggle to find a topic suitable for the assignment, he or she can ask the course instructor and/or a reference librarian. Additional topic ideas can be found using general subject matter searches through search engines and library databases. Once a topic has been tentatively settled upon, the researcher can use the keywords and concepts in the initial searches to determine whether or not the topic is viable, specific enough, or too specific.

Determining Context and Finding Sources Through Library Databases

Once a topic and search terms have been identified, many researchers choose to conduct a small amount of preliminary reading on the topic’s entries in encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, and handbooks. At this stage, it is important to consider that these sources of information are not always considered expert-level citation sources due to the nature of their creation. Remember that encyclopedias and dictionaries are generally not original research. Instead, they are summations and/or explanations of the work of reputable scholars or generalized agreements within scholarly communities as to the context and definitions of ideas. Despite this, these texts can help determine the cultural and historical significance of many topics. Moreover, the bibliographies or further reading sections attached to them can point a researcher toward potential sources of reference.

...