Sometimes the hardest part of your research project is the part before you even start searching.  It is choosing your research topic and then narrowing that topic down to something you can use to search the library databases.

When picking your specific research topic here are some tips to keep in mind.

• Choose something that you are interested in.  Library searches take longer than searches done using a search engine so you will likely be spending a lot of time with your topic.  Make it something you enjoy!
• Your topic should fall somewhere into the Goldilocks Zone of research topics.  Not to broad that it is hard to sort through your results, or to narrow that you are unable to find any sources.

After you have selected your topic, take that broad topic, and turn it into a narrower, more defined research question.  This is the question that you hope to answer with your research.

When using your search engine to perform a search, generally we are asking a question that has a specific answer.  These questions have a single answer that can be found in a single place:

• What time does the movie start?
• Where can I get my dogs favorite food?

Questions for library databases ask complicated questions that encourage users to find multiple sources that discuss their research question.  Research questions are broad enough that there will be information available in the library databases to answer them.  They are also narrow enough that there will not be too much information.  Some examples of research questions are:

• How are academic libraries using virtual reality to augment the classroom experience?
• How did Jack the Ripper change policing in Victorian England?

Once you have your search terms and you have chosen the database, it is time to start searching!  There are certain boxes, buttons, and search assistance options you will be looking for in all the database you use.

All databases will have ways that you can narrow your search without having to add new terms.  When using a database, you should always look for the Limit to Full Text or Full Text Documents check boxes.  You want to make sure that the results you are seeing are only sources that are available in full text, instead of a source that is merely a description or abstract.

Other helpful ways to limit your search are:

• Publication Date
• Document or Source Type
  • Some professors may ask you to only use Scholarly Articles from Academic Journals

Once you have found a source you think will be useful to you, there are a few things you want to make sure to find.

• Make sure to save your source before you leave the database.  Always try to save as a PDF when possible.  This ensures you have page numbers and that you do not have to come back to the database.  To do this look for ways to:
  • Print
  • Email
  • Send
  • Save
• Look for the Cite button.  This will provide you with your starter citation in all the major citation’s styles.  While you can copy and paste this citation into your Reference or Works Cited page, be sure to double check the citations provided.  Ensure that the formatting (hanging indents, italics, capitalization, etc) matches the citation style you are using.

The Sea of Content

There is so much content on the internet. Just typing APPLES into Google will result in 9 trillion results! It is impossible to look through all that content to find the right information. 

When researching, try to narrow your topic. The more detailed your topic, the more likely you'll find exact information. 

Ask Yourself Questions 

If you are doing a research project on apples, that is too broad of a search term. Start by asking a question: 

Apple Cider is more precise than Apples, but it is still a bit too broad. Instead, ask yourself another question

The making of apple cider is now precise, but we can narrow the topic even more by asking another question: 

The Fermentation of Apple Cider is now a very precise topic! 

If you are having trouble coming up with questions for your specific topic you can try to use the 5Ws to narrow down your search.