SELECTING A RESEARCH PAPER TOPIC

1. Is the topic of sufficient interest to sustain your interest for the duration of the project?

2. Is the topic too broad? If yes, you may want to consider narrowing the topic by:
   • -- sub-category or sub-area
   • -- subject population (age, sex, occupational group, race or ethnic group)
   • -- theoretical approach
   • -- time period
   • -- species restriction (animal or human)
   • -- research methodology

3. Is there enough material on the topic, or is the topic too new, too trendy, too specialized, or too limited in appeal to have received coverage in a broad variety of forms?

   Ask a Reference Librarian to help you brainstorm ways of finding or narrowing your topic choice. To do so, BRING your assignment requirements with you.

4. Is there enough material on your topic in the Saddleback College Library? How many and what types of sources are needed?
   Ask a Reference Librarian to help you locate additional materials on your topic when you have exhausted your own resources. It is helpful to keep a list of the sources you have reviewed and eliminated to save you time and avoid duplication. Share this information with the librarian to make the most of your research time.

5. How interdisciplinary is your topic? Are you willing to conduct your research in more than one library?

6. How much timeare you willing to devote to this project?
   

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© Copyright 2000 Bonnie Stephenson, MLIS
Saddleback College Librarian
Page Last Updated: August 13, 2000
Comments should be directed to: bstephenson@saddleback.edu