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ED 605: Research Methods

SELECTING AND NARROWING A TOPIC

How do you know if your topic is too broad? Or too narrow?

A too-broad topic will yield thousands, or hundreds of thousands of results (or significantly more) depending on which platforms you're searching. 

Examples include:

  • Positive Behavioral Intervention Systems
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Banned Books

Each of the above has dozens or more areas to explore, and you can narrow your topic by asking basic questions, and identifying one or more ideas from each: 

  • Who - select a specific group or groups (think demographics).
  • What - identify specific practices or policies.
  • When - is there a timeframe, time limit, or age group?
  • Where - consider selecting a specific location, region, or community 
  • Why - can you think of a timely research purpose or current action item driving interest?
  • How - do certain research methods interest you more than others?

SCROLL THROUGH THE SEARCH RESULTS BELOW TO SEE THIS IN PRACTICE

 

SAMPLE SEARCH RESULTS

SEARCHING THE EBSCO PLATFORM - (Academic Search Premier, ERIC, and PsychInfo) - PBIS or positive behavior intervention support gives me 3,900 results. I can always use filters, but I think I need to build in some of those questions to get my results down first. 

SEARCHING THE EBSCO PLATFORM - (Academic Search Premier, ERIC, and PsychInfo) - So I add in a 'what' - impact to 'mental health'. Now I have 919 results, which I'm still not feeling great about. Maybe one more question...

SEARCHING THE EBSCO PLATFORM - (Academic Search Premier, ERIC, and PsychInfo) - I think I'll consider a 'who' - and add in 'ELL or English Language Learners' to my search. I'm selecting 'Advanced Search' to add these terms. 

Now I have 85 results!! This feels MUCH more manageable. I could keep going... 

SEARCHING THE EBSCO PLATFORM - (Academic Search Premier, ERIC, and PsychInfo) - I'm gonna add in just one more. How about a 'where' - in private schools! AND, I have 9 results, which may LOOK great. But I'm really not seeing ANY titles that address the keywords I entered, and certainly not even one that includes them all. 

I pressed my luck, and I lost. The good news is, I can always omit that last set of keywords! 

FROM TOPIC TO RESEARCH QUESTION

TOPIC + GROUP + IMPACT

PBIS + ELL + MENTAL HEALTH =

How do positive behavioral intervention supports impact mental health among English Language Learners?

 

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