Research Strategy

Let's Begin...

This part of our orientation is a simple guide to doing research, using the FCC Library and the Web. Feel free to consult our librarians about anything that has not been covered in this guide or in a class orientation. If you link out to the Web from one of its pages, simply close the window of the Web page to get back here. 

If you have any questions, ask one of the Library staff for help, call 301-846-2444, or email Ask a Reference Librarian.

Selecting a Topic

Are you at a loss when it comes to subjects for papers or projects?

GO TO THE LIBRARY'S HOME PAGE (www.frederick.edu/student-resources/learning-commons/library.aspx) AND BROWSE THROUGH THE RESEARCH DATABASES.

OFF-CAMPUS

Students please log-in with your
 

myFCC Username: W + Student ID (ex. w1234567)

myFCC Password: Default password is first two letters of last name + Last five digits of student ID (ex. sm34567). If you have changed your default password use your current MyFCC password.
 

Faculty/Staff: please log-in with your Network username and password.

• CQ Researcher

• Facts.com: Issues and Controversies

• Films on Demand (Collections)

• Gale: Opposing Viewpoints

• Statista (Infographics)

USE AUTHORITATIVE WEB RESOURCES FOR TOPIC IDEAS

Public Agenda A nonprofit, nonpartisan research and citizen education resource, founded by social scientist, Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Includes statistics, results of polls, policy proposals, and more

http://www.publicagenda.com

Pro-Con.org Award winning nonpartisan site on controversial issues.

http://www.procon.org

Idea Generator by Old Dominion University, Library (VA)

http://guides.lib.odu.edu/ideagenerator

Hot Paper Topics by St. Ambrose University, O'Keefe Library (IA)

http://libguides.sau.edu/hottopics

BROWSE PERIODICALS FOR ARTICLES OF INTEREST

GO INTO GOOGLE, CHOOSE A TOPIC OF BROAD INTEREST TO YOU AND BROWSE THE TOP SITES.

 It's necessary to do some "pre-research" at the beginning, simply to select a topic. Many students decide on a topic first, and THEN try to find out if there is sufficient information on that subject.

 After doing some pre-research and finding an area of interest to write about, state and define your research topic as completely as you can. Use the grid below as a guide to list your major concepts and to help you find synonyms or related terms that will help you when you search for information. Thesaurus.com will help you do this.

Here's an EXAMPLE: I would like to find information on the effects of violence on television on children. 

Getting Background or Overviews of Information on a Topic

Get some backgound or surveys of information on your topic to give you the "big picture." Ask a Librarian to show you helpful subject-related books on your topic---

or suggest one or more of our research databases, such as

• Gale Virtual Reference Library

  The Library's Wikipedia! Authoritative encyclopedias for background information on numerous subjects.
  

• CQ Researcher

  Created by Congress, well-researched reports that look at all sides of an issue. Great place to find the questions an issue might raise.
  

• Facts on File: Issues and Controversies

  Reports, background information, articles, and more all related to current controversial issues.
  

• Gale Opposing ViewPoints in Context

  Viewpoints, articles, and statistics about numerous contemporary issues

Remember, to access these databases from off-campus,

            Students: enter your myFCC Username and Password when prompted.

Your Default myFCC Username is the letter W plus your student ID number. (Example: W1234567)

If you haven't changed your password, your Default Password is the first two letters of your last name plus the last five digits of your student ID number (Example: sm34567).

Faculty/Staff: Use your Network Username and Password. when prompted.

Using Wikipedia for Basic Background Information in Academic Research

Your instructor likely doesn't want you to rely only on Wikipedia for background information or overviews of a topic. However, there are some useful, acceptable ways to use Wikipedia for your research.

This video explains the fundamentals. To see the full screen clearly, run your cursor along the bottom of the video screen and click on the symbol.

© 2012 clipinfolit

Focusing a Topic- Use The Table of Contents From a Book on Your Subject

Once you have assembled some background information on a topic, here are some ideas for focusing it. HOWEVER, don't get too narrow or specific, because there may be very little information on a highly specialized topic.

• Examine the table of contents of a book on your topic. Ask a librarian to help you find one. Notice the subheadings and consider focusing on just one. SEE EXAMPLE BELOW.

© 2015 Richard Singer and John Q. La Fond

Focusing a Topic- Use a Textbook on Your Subject

Find one or two books on your subject. Look at the chapter titles. Do they suggest a narrower approach to your topic? SEE EXAMPLE BELOW.

© 2014 Chicago Review Press

Focusing a Topic-View Journal Contents

• The Library staff can help you find a recent (print or electronic) magazine, journal, or newspaper article in your area of interest. An article would probably focus on only one or two aspects of the broader topic. This might help determine your focus. SEE EXAMPLE OF A TABLE OF CONTENTS BELOW.

Stress and Health: A Journal

 (c) 2009 Wiley-Blackwell

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Psychological distress and collision involvement among adult drivers·          

• Chewing gum, stress and health· 

• Work stress and depression: the direct and moderating effects of informal social support and coping

• Role overload and underload in relation to occupational stress and health
  ·          
• Traumatic events, perceived stress and health in women with fibromyalgia and healthy controls

• Mental health and quality of life among doctors, nurses and other hospital staff·
          
• A person-focused analysis of resilience resources and coping in patients with diabetes

• Burnout and light treatment 
       
• Gender differences in experiencing occupational stress: the role of age, education, and marital status

 Focusing a Topic- Search Google

Use Google to create a list of possible subtopics. However, remember that you want to be sure to use valid information from the Web. We'll look more closely at evaluating such information later in our Orientation.

Another Good Method for Focusing a Topic- Ask the Five Ws

To further Focus or Narrow Your Topic, ask questions about it. Consider the five Ws when trying to figure out what you want to research:

• Who? Limit your topic to a specific person or group. 
• What? Limit your topic to a particular aspect of the topic or discipline 
• Where? Limit your topic to a particular place or region. 
• When? Limit your topic to a particular period of time 
• Why? Ask why the topic is important.

 You can limit your topic in more than one way. For example limit it to a "who" and a "what" or a "when" and a "where".

Formulating the Research Question

Now that you have some ideas about focusing a topic that interests you, your next task is to create a clear and concise statement or question that will focus your research or project. Here are some guidelines.

• It is open ended (that is, it can't be answered with a simple yes or no)
  
• It addresses an issue or controversy or solves a problem
  
• It has a narrow focus
  
• Answer is not obvious
  
• You can actually research it (there is evidence out there for you to find)