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Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide: 1f. Refine Topic: Broaden/Narrow

This guide will help you understand the research process that you need to go through for your assignments.

Is Your Topic Too Narrow?

If you are not finding enough information, your topic may be too narrow. Consider broadening it by:

  • Exploring related issues
  • Comparing or contrasting the topic with another topic
  • Expanding the:
    • time period covered
    • population considered
    • geographic area discussed
  • Choosing an alternative topic that is not so recent -- it may not be covered in books and journal articles yet
  • Choosing an alternative topic that is not so popular -- it may be covered in popular magazines and tabloids only

Examples

Broad Topic: Global warming

Narrower Topic: How will climate change impact sea levels and the east coast of Australia?

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Narrow Topic: Does cartoon viewing cause violent behaviors in children under the age of five?

Broader Topic:  What are the negative effects of television viewing on children and adolescents?

Is Your Topic Too Broad?

If you are finding too much information, your topic may be too broad. Consider narrowing it by:

  • Time period -- 1960's, bronze age, etc.
  • Geographic location -- Denver, New York, Australia, etc.
  • Population -- age, race, gender, nationality or other group

  • Smaller piece of the topic:

    • Genre -- jazz (music)
    • Event -- Battle of the Bulge (WWII)
    • Aspect -- government regulations (pollution)
    • Discipline or Subject -- music (in early childhood education)

Once you have chosen an initial broad topic for your research paper, narrow your focus on that topic to make a more precise point. Narrowing the focus of your topic will limit the amount of material you have to cover and make your topic and supporting information specific, relevant, and easy to understand. The link below will take you to SlideShare presentation to help you with the steps to follow to narrow your topic: 

Broad vs narrow topics

Subject vs Topic

It helps to choose your research topic by narrowing it down from a broad subject.

Some examples of subjects and possible research topics:

Broad Subject Topic

Education
"What are the best methods for teaching children how to read?"
Biology
"What are the latest theories about the extinction of dinosaurs?"
Sociology
"What effect, if any, does violence in the media have on children?"
Psychology

"What are the latest treatments for depression?"

In some cases, your research question may touch on several different subjects.  For example, you could examine the issue of human cloning from the point of view of biology, medicine, sociology, the law, politics, religion, or philosophy.  Each of these perspectives might be found in different parts of the library.

Tips

  • Think of your topic as a question you hope to answer. Think about what specifically you hope to learn or research.  For example, instead of "chipmunk love," try something like, "What behaviors characterize the mating habits of chipmunks?"

  • Know which subject your topic comes from. Work from the general to the more specific. This will help you know where to look for more information.
  • Your topic may change as you find (or don't find) more information.