CSUN Library-- Women's Studies Resources- Selecting and Refining a Topic for Your Research Paper

Women's Studies Research Resources

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"Girls - are you interested in a job" By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943 American Memory Library of Congress

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Women's Studies Bibliography
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Women's Studies 210
Women's Studies 300
Women's Studies 301
Women's Studies 400

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CSUN Departent of Women's Studies

Selecting and Refining a Topic for Your Research Paper
		Once you have found some background information on the topic you select, you can refine a broad research topic into a narrow, focused topic. The sooner you can develop a broad subject into a focused topic, the sooner you can shape your research into a finished paper. On the other hand, if your subject is too focused or detailed, you may have a hard time finding enough sources to write an acceptable paper. In this case, to need to broaden your topic. If you need assistance refining your topic, please consult any reference librarian.
		Background Information
		A good way to begin your research is to locate and read short articles that will give you a broad overview of a topic. You can find these articles in a variety of reference materials. Also, these resources often provide bibliographies -- lists of books and articles that will allow you to discover what else is available on a subject.
		General Encyclopedias \| Specialized/Subject Specific Encyclopedias \| Specialized/Subject Specific Dictionaries \| Almanacs \| Handbooks \| Periodical Articles from Full-Text Databases How to Use These Sources Most Effectively
		General Encyclopedias Since they are designed to cover all branches of knowledge, general encyclopedias are likely to have some information on every topic. They are often good sources to consult first, since
		Specialized or subject-specific encyclopedias Specialized or subject-specific encyclopedias provide more detailed articles written by experts in a field. There are hundreds of specialized encyclopedias. Bibliographies in these sources tend to be more comprehensive than bibliographies in general encyclopedias.
		Specialized/Subject Specific Dictionaries Technical and discipline-specific definitions not listed in general dictionaries may be available in subject-specific dictionaries. Definitions in these types of dictionaries are usually more detailed than those found in standard dictionaries; many subject-specific dictionaries resemble encyclopedias more than traditional dictionaries. Illustrations and bibliographic references are common.
		Almanacs Almanacs are filled with up-to-date answers to all kinds of questions. Whether you are looking for basic statistics on state funding of prenata; programs or recent recipients of the Nobel Prize, you are likely to find the information in an almanac. They provide figures, charts, tables, and statistics.
		Full-Text Articles Sometimes articles in newspapers or general interest periodicals (Newsweek, Time, National Geographic, etc.) can provide a quick overview of a subject. Use one of the library's full text databases to find such articles. Keep in mind that articles you find in these resources should be viewed as the beginning -- and not necessarily the end -- of your research. Searches in general periodical indexes may also provide you with an idea of what kinds of articles are being written about a subject.
		How to Use These Sources Effectively As you read about a subject, take note of distinctive and unique words used to describe the topic. These will be the keywords you can use to search for additional information in other sources. To save yourself time and trouble, write down the author, title, and publication information for every source you consult. You will need this information if you need to write a bibliography or find the publication again. Locate the publications listed in the bibliography at the end of articles. These ready-made reading lists are sources authors may have used to put their work together, and you may also find these same sources helpful for your research.
		NARROWING A TOPIC A topic that covers too much material is a common problem for students. Depending on your interests, a general topic can be focused in many ways. For example, if you want to do a paper on the glass ceiling and women,consider the following questions: What do you already know about this subject? Is there a specific time period you want to cover? Is there a geographic region or country on which you would like to focus? Is there a particular aspect of this topic that interests you? For example, public policy implications, historical influence, sociological aspects, psychological angles, specific groups or individuals involved in the topic, etc. BROADENING A TOPIC Topics that are too narrow are fairly simple to fix. Think of parallel and broader associations for your subject to find a broader topic that will be easier to research. Sometimes a topic may be too new and sources to your research questions may not yet exist.

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