Start Your Research Project with Proven Tips & Tools!

What Topic Should I Research?

• Check assignment details from your professor for:
  • the scope of the project
  • the type of information required or suggested
  • the format of the project (e.g., presentation, paper, etc.)
• Ask a librarian for topic ideas related to your interests.
• Get topic suggestions from:
  • Credo Reference
    LSC-CyFair Users | HCPL Users
    Try this: In Credo, enter a large topic such as psychology or a small topic such as panic disorder and click on the mind map labels provided with search results to focus your research area.
  • Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates
  • Online News Hour-Newsdesk (Note: Click on menu on the left top of the page for more coverage or use the search box in the top right to locate a specific topic)
  • Old Dominion Libraries Idea Generator (topic ideas under broad categories such as education, health sciences, etc.)
  • Rand Corporation Research Topics
• Focus your topic on a specific and manageable aspect that interests you:
  • time period or geographical area
  • problem, viewpoint, issue, or trend
  • group affected by the topic

What Topic Words Are Best for Online Information Searches?

• Select nouns as your primary search words.
  (examples: person, place, or thing)
• Start searching with 1 - 3 words or phrases.
  (example: PTSD)
• Add the word – and – between search words.
  (example: women and veterans)
• Put “quotes” around specific phrases.
  (example: women and veterans and "mental health")
• Limit results by adding words to your search.
  (example: women and veterans and "mental health" and "United States")
• Increase results by removing words from your search.
  (example: women and "mental health")

Where Do I Search for Information?

Note: For off-campus access, enter the barcode number on your college ID/ library card. Or request a library card barcode number.

• Start your research with some articles from our multi-topic databases.
  • MasterFILE Complete
  • Newspaper Source Plus
• Find controversial topics in these databases.
  • Opposing Viewpoints
  • Issues and Controversies
  • CQ Researcher
• Use digital books online and library books on the shelf to get background details on your topic.
  • eBook Collection
  • Library Catalog
• Discover statistics to prove your point on a topic.
  • Statistical Abstract of the United States (population, employment, business, military, etc.)
• Get streaming video to enhance your presentation.
  • Academic Video Online: Premium
• Discover specialized sources with databases by subject for literature, health, business, and more.
  • Literary Reference Center
  • Health Reference Center Academic
  • Business Source Complete
• Locate reliable sources on the Internet with unique details for your project.
  • Pew Research Center Topics (election, immigration, energy, etc. - surveys and reports)
  • BBC News (an international perspective on topics from the U.S., Europe, and beyond)
  • The Brookings Institution Research Topics (defense, technology, law, education, etc. - opinion and analysis)

How Do I Select Sources and Organize Them?

• Rate your sources. - Zombies in the Library: How to Evaluate Information Interactive Tutorial
• Identify the type of article you need. - Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines
• Learn some methods for keeping track of information sources. - Note Taking and Research: Why, How, and What? (PDF)
• Put source information into your own words. - Summarize, Paraphrase, and Quote: When and How? (PDF)

How Do I Cite My Sources?

• APA Style Guide - 6th Edition
• MLA Citation - 8th Edition - Works Cited & In-Text
• Citation Help - for additional examples and styles
• Avoiding Plagiarism FAQ

How Do I Format Research Papers?

• APA (Microsoft Word 2016)
• MLA (Microsoft Word 2016)
• Chicago from the Chicago Manual of Style CMOS Shop Talk