Credit: Shelley Arvin, Indiana State University
If you are finding too little information, your topic may be too NARROW, specialized, or current. Use these strategies to broaden your topic.
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Generalize |
Generalize your topic. If your topic is the health effects of fracking on a specific community, broaden your topic to all communities in a state or the United States. |
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Currency |
If your topic is very current, there may not be books or journal articles available yet. Choose an alternative topic that is not so recent, or if permitted, use newspapers which are updated daily. |
| Database Choice | Other databases in your subject area or consider databases in a related subject area might cover the topic from a different perspective. |
| Synonyms | Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for your topic. When reading background information, note the terminology that is used. |
| Related | Explore related issues. |
| Expand / Remove | Expand or remove: location, time period, aspect, event, population, person/group. |
Example of a Narrow Topic: Does cartoon viewing cause aggression in children under age five?
Broader: What are the negative effects of TV on children and adolescents?
If you are finding too much information, your research topic may be too BROAD. Consider narrowing it to a more specific: This can be done by using limiters, specific subject headings, and field qualifiers.
| Time | Civil War, Iron Age, 1920's, 18th Century |
|---|---|
| Location | Europe, U.S., Denver, urban, eastern |
| Population | age, race, gender, nationality, ethnic group, occupation |
| Event or Aspect | government regulations related to cloning, Battle of the Bulge in WWII |
| Person or Group | college students, Democrats, Republicans |
Broad Topic: Global warming
Narrower Topic: How will climate change impact sea levels and the coastal United States?