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LS 102 Course Materials: Developing a Topic

Introduction to Information Research

Developing a Topic

Once you’ve selected a topic, you may need to develop it to fit your scope. We’re often researching unfamiliar topics, so figuring out the best focus for our need or what keywords to use to find information can be tough without additional preparation.

Reading Background Information

Photo of student reading a book in the stacks.

Reading some background information can help with both areas. Some good sources for background information are:

  • General Reference (Encyclopedias, Handbooks, Manuals)
  • Subject Specific Reference (Encyclopedias, Bibliographies, Literature Reviews)
  • Introductory Chapters in Books

Background information summarizes the major ideas and concepts related to your topic (e.g. important issues, technical vocabulary, major people and events). After selecting a topic, many people start searching with factual questions—simple questions with definitive answers. These are the types of questions we might Google, but they aren’t the core of research.

Instead, answering these factual questions helps set the stage for us to develop our own research questions. Remember, research is an ongoing conversation that you are joining when you create your work. Taking the time to read background information can help you “catch up” with others. You can then better understand and use their work to develop your ideas.

Answering factual questions can help focus your topic through exploring different aspects you may not know.

Some examples of aspects you can use to focus your topic include:

  • Who is affected or involved (e.g. population, group)
  • What discipline or subject perspective interests you (e.g. historical, psychological)
  • What other issues or topics are related to or involved with yours
  • Where is affected or involved (e.g. geographic location, environments, settings)
  • When is affected or involved (e.g. time period, era, coverage)

Developing your topic also means keeping your scope in mind. You don’t want to be too broad because you’ll find too much information to evaluate and to use effectively. You don’t want to be too narrow because you’ll have trouble finding information. It may take a few revisions and experimental searches before you find the best fit, so don’t worry if you have to adjust along the way!

Selecting Key Words

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Background information can also help with selecting keywords to use in your searches. Keywords are the important words and concepts that you want sources to contain. You can brainstorm what you already know about your topic, but you can also keep track of important ideas and concepts that you learn while you read. These may be new ideas you’ve learned, technical vocabulary that are synonyms for your earlier ideas, or any of the specific aspects listed above.

Watch This: "Research is a Conversation"

Video Length: About 3 minutes (3:26)

Video Credit: Edmon Low Library & Branch Libraries, Oklahoma State University. "Inform Your Thinking: Episode 1 - Research is a Conversation." YouTube, uploaded by OkStateLibrary, 18 May 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmbO3JX5xvU  Used under CC-BY-NC. Accessed 3 Aug. 2021.