Graduate Research Process: 1e. Refine a Topic

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 less recent -- it may not be covered in books and journal articles yet
• Choosing an alternative topic that is less popular -- it may be covered in popular magazines and tabloids only

Always look at the list of references or works cited for leads to additional materials on the same topic.

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)