Defining Your Research Topic & Starting
Your Search
Lesson 3
Defining Your Research Topic and Starting Your Search
The difference between a beginning researcher and an expert is in the amount of time spent in defining the topic. Expert researchers take the necessary time to think about what it is they are trying to find and put their requests into terms that work within the structures of the library and online information systems.
The time you spend defining your research topic is well worth the effort. In order to locate information in library databases or on the Internet you must clearly understand what you are looking for and know how your topic fits into other areas of knowledge and research. The following sections will provide you with ideas on how to begin your research.