The Research Cycle

Refine Your Topic

Once you have gathered some background information, it is time to start thinking of your research question.  The shorter your paper, the narrower the topic can be.  Think about the following:

• Is there a subset of the topic you would like to explore further?
• Is there a cause/effect relationship you can explore?
• Is there an unanswered question on the subject?
• Can you focus on a specific time period or group of people? 

Then, try to answer who, what, when, where, and why.  This can help you formulate your question.

Identify Keywords

Once you have a narrowed topic, try to identify the most important ideas in your topic. You can use these KEYWORDS in searching for sources.

Example Topic: How does using dating apps impact partners in romantic relationships?

Keywords: dating apps, partners, romantic relationships

Think of Synonyms for Your Keywords

Most words have synonyms that mean the same or very similar things. For each keyword in your topic, try to come up with at least one synonym because the word you use for something may be different than the word an author might use for the same concept. Not all keywords will have synonyms, but many do!

dating apps:  online dating, dating website

partners:  significant others, companions, dates

romantic relationships:  liaisons, courtship, going out

Keep an Eye Out

Sometimes scholars use terms that you might not be familiar with or which might mean something very specific within the discipline. While searching, look for unfamiliar terms or words that show up a lot. Try searching for those and see if you find more relevant sources.