REsearch MEthods Intro

tinyurl.com/ybjw6xep

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Goal

• Determine the researchability of a topic using research strategies and library tools.
• Identify where and how to search for source materials

tODAY

• Topic scoping
• Topic feasibility
• Library tool

Discuss

Researchable Topics

Researchable topics:

• can be supported by evidence
• are grounded in existing background, theory, or practice
• can be flexible
• are open ended.

The impact of drinking toxic water on young children in Flint, MI.

Non-Researchable Topics

• address philosophical or ethical issues
• cannot be resolved through data collection and analysis
• address opinions
• are too new for research to have been published

The federal government needs to fix the water supply in Flint, MI.

TOPIC SCOPING

Toxic drinking water effects.

Toxic drinking water effects on prefrontal cortex development of female African American children age 7-12 in Flint, MI.

Toxic drinking water effect on African-American children in Flint, MI.

Broadening & NArrowing

Narrowing a Topic

• Choose a demographic (population, age group, location)
• Determine a setting
• Consider a specific point of view

Broadening a Topic

• Remove one of the limiters (details)
• See what's out there
• Talk with your professor or librarian.

Neighborhood degradation

Non-seafood dietary habits of watermen and women in the Maryland Chesapeake Bay area affecting heart health and lifespan.

Relationship between social justice and nutrition

YOUR TURN:
Is your topic researchable?

tinyurl.com/yd952rmy

Researchability Checklist

• Topic is open ended
• Topic does not address an opinion
• Has an appropriate scope
• Is not a brand new trend or phenomenon

Consult with your advisor and a librarian to help determine the researchability of your idea.

Researchability Final Step:
Try some searches

Pull basic keywords from your topic:

social justice AND nutrition AND Maryland

Run the search through multiple databases, search engines, journals, etc.

Try more than one!

Where do you look?

Catalyst

guides.library.jhu.edu/hst

Need help?
Ask a Librarian: asklib@jhu.edu