FAQs

There may be several factors that impact your topic choice. We recommend starting with the Choosing a Topic page on our Develop a Search Strategy guide. It provides tips to jump-start the research process. When we receive a cry for help to find a topic, one of the first databases we suggest visiting is Opposing Viewpoints in Context. To find this resource:

1. Click on the Research Databases icon on the library homepage.
2. Enter the database name in the search box at the top of the page OR select the letter of the first word of the database name from the alphabetical list. For example, select the letter O for Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
3. Select the database name link to access the database.
4. Once in the database, click the Browse Issues link to get a comprehensive list of topics.

In addition to Opposing Viewpoints in Context, the library has other databases that break down its resources by specific issues and topics. Suggestions include:

• Global Issues in Context
• Homeland Security Digital Library
• ProQuest One - Trending Topics in Education
• ProQuest One - Trending Topics in Psychology

Another technique is skimming through the coverage in specific publications. For example, there is a direct link to Harvard Business Review on the Research Databases page. Otherwise, you can use the library search box on the library homepage to find specific journals, such as JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association), or scan titles listed by subject. You can look through the table of contents of recent issues for topics that interest you. This isn't quite as easy as using the abovementioned databases, but it's an option.