Most research projects begin as too general or broad. Here is a way to take a general subject and narrow it down.
Step 1: Keyword Search
Do an initial keyword search for your subject in an academic database like Academic Search Complete, ProQuest Research Library, or Microsoft Academic.
Example: Climate Change
Step 2: Do the Numbers
In this step, you will first see whether the results look relevant. If not, repeat Step 1 with different keywords. If so, use the number of search results to gauge whether your current topic is too broad or too narrow. If you are getting thousands or even hundreds of hits, your topic is probably too broad. If you are getting less than ten, your topic is probably too narrow.
Step 3: Listen to the Conversation
If your subject is too broad, skim the titles of your results for interesting subtopics. Pick the subtopic that most interests you. Then, pull the core nouns and verbs from the titles of these articles. These will be the keywords used for new searches.
If your subject is too narrow, return to Step 1 and brainstorm broader keywords.
Finding a topic that you can support with ample, relevant research is often a process. This FAQ unpacks one way to tackle this process by doing an initial search, listening in to specific conversations happening about this subject, and using language from those conversations to develop a more tightly focused topic to guide future searches.
For a more in-depth discussion, examples, and handouts, check our introductory and advanced lessons on scoping your research subject.
Still stumped? For further assistance, ask a librarian!
