Using Databases to Help Choose a Topic

Still need help deciding on a topic? Try a database search!

Perhaps you have been researching a topic but are not having any luck finding books or articles? Databases not only help you find information once you've settled on a topic, but can also help you figure out if a topic has enough written on it to be useful. 

 

Some tips for using databases to help find a topic:

  • Try searching your topic by keyword in a few different databases on the library's Article Databases Links to an external site. webpage. Since Academic Search Complete and Gale Academic OneFile are broader databases, start with those first. Then, search in more focused databases (such as Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection).
    List of Databases with Scholarly Articles
  • Try to search as specifically as possible. For example, if you're interested in writing on homelessness in San Francisco, search for those articles specifically rather than for articles on homelessness in general. You're looking for results: the more results, the better your chances of finding research on your topic.

 

  • When you're entering your search terms, pay attention to the terms the database auto-suggests -- sometimes these are helpful. Once you choose an article, read the abstracts Links to an external site. that come up in the article descriptions and make a list of the subject terms Links to an external site.. In all of these, be on the lookout for topics, words, or phrases that come up frequently, as these are likely to be important issues and can help narrow your focus.
    Screenshot of EBSCO Host with arrows highlighting the search box with autosuggestions, subject terms, and the abstract

 

  • If you're unsure of all the issues surrounding your topic, you might try searching for your topic in pro/con database on the library's Article Databases Links to an external site. webpage, such as Opposing Viewpoints. This will give you a broader picture of an issue, and can also give you a direction if you're totally unsure of what topic you want to pursue.


Database with Pro/Con Arguments

 

  • If you don't find any sources at first, try changing your search terms, brainstorming alternate terms, or broadening / narrowing your topic. Not every topic you can think of has been written on, however. If you've tried all you can think of and are still having trouble finding articles, you'll probably want to change your topic!  Just remember, you can always ask a librarian to help you Links to an external site..