Defining the Research Topic
The aim of your research is to identify and locate material relevant
to the topic. While you couldn't reasonably expect to find everything
that has been written on the topic, it is important that at least the
key works are consulted (both primary and secondary material).
Planning is essential to ensure that you find the key works.
Translate the Research Topic into a Question
In order to focus your attention onto the main issue/s it can be a
good idea to translate your topic into a question (or questions).
Assume that you have chosen (or been given) a topic for a major essay:
Nazi Propaganda
Often a topic can be stated as more than one question, as is the case
here:
- How important was propaganda in Hitler's rise to power?
- What were the chief themes of Nazi propaganda?
- How great was Hitler's role in Nazi propaganda?
Identify Keywords
A topic question will contain a number of keywords. In the example
below the keywords are highlighted.
What was Joachim von Ribbentrop's role
in the outbreak of the
Second World War?
It is useful to keep a record of the keywords in a question. Keyword
searching is available on most electronic databases including library
catalogues and journal indexes. Keywords are also of value when using
similar resources in hardcopy.
Creating Search Statements (Boolean Searching)
Electronic databases such as library catalogues, journal indexes and
www search engines can be searched using a form of logic known as Boolean
Logic.
Boolean Logic allows keywords to be combined in a search in
different ways, using Operators.
Through the use of Boolean Operators it is possible to combine
terms in a logical manner and to broaden or limit the scope of a search.
The main Operators are the words:
Click on the Operators above to see how they work.
