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Once a topic is selected, use the databases listed below to conduct some preliminary research by searching current periodicals and journals to identify:
- what issues/concepts related to the topic do you need to understand,
- what research has already been done,
- what are the gaps in the research literature, and
- how to narrow a topic.
It is often helpful to ask yourself open-ended questions such as "how," "why," or "so what." Also helpful is compiling a list of potential questions to help you narrow the topic or put a new spin on an old idea.
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Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new window
Provides citations and abstracts to articles, as well as full text of articles from over 4,600 publications, covering almost every academic subject.
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ASSIA: Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts This link opens in a new window
Provides citations and abstracts "covering health, social services, psychology, sociology, economics, politics, race relations and education."
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Humanities Index This link opens in a new window
Provides citations and abstracts to articles in internationally respected humanities journals and weekly magazines published in the UK and other English-speaking countries, as well as quality newspapers published in the UK.
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Rand Reports This link opens in a new window
A public policy research institution, the RAND Corporation focuses its research on a wide range of policy issues including national security, transportation & infrastructure, international affairs, workforce & labor issues, education, public safety, environmental issues, and healthcare.
