LibGuides: Economics Research Guide: Develop a Topic

Develop Your Research Topic

Picking a topic is more complex than you might think. Developing a good research question can sometimes be the most difficult part of the research process.

If you are unfamiliar with your potential topic, you may need to research background information before you can develop a strong research question. Background information can help you identify key names, dates, events, issues, concepts, and terms associated with the topic.

Some good sources to find background information:

Your textbook or class readings
Dictionaries and encyclopedias
Credible websites
Library databases

Here are a few sources we suggest you explore.

Search Background Information

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
A multidisciplinary, online reference library that provides access to a selection of dictionaries and encyclopedias.
Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window
Includes encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. A great place to start your research!

Sometimes a topic that seems like the right size can seem way too big after you’ve learned a little more about it. When this happens, you need to narrow the focus of your topic.

Some of the ways you can limit your topic are by:

Who - population or group
What - discipline or focus
Where - geographic location
When - time period or era
Why - why is the topic important?

Here's an example of narrowing a topic by population and focus:
Broad Topic: minimum wage and the economy
Narrow Topic: the negative effects of a recession on minimum wage employees in the United States

(adapted from U of Michigan - Finding and Exploring Your Topic)

Sometimes you will find that your topic is too narrow, and there is not enough published on your topic. When this happens, you can try to broaden your topic. There are a couple of strategies you can try when broadening your topic.

One strategy is to choose less specific terms for your search:

Standardized Tests instead of SATs
Performance-Enhancing Drugs instead of Anabolic Steroids

Another strategy is to broaden your topic by changing or removing limits from your topic:

Who - population or group
What - discipline or focus
Where - geographic location
When - time period or era

Here's an example of making a narrow topic more broad:
Narrow Topic: Does watching cartoons cause violent behaviors in children under the age of five?
Broader Topic: What are the negative effects of television viewing on children and adolescents?

(adapted from U of Michigan - Finding and Exploring Your Topic)