Refining Topics

Often the topic you find interesting can be too large to investigate for a single research paper. Try these simple focus strategies to narrow a broad topic to a manageable one.

Aspect

Look at a single aspect of a topic:

• Economics of genetically modified food crops
• Psychological effects of crystal methamphetamine use
• Treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• The significance of food in a particular religion

Time

Focus on a year or range of years:

• GM crops developed since 2000
• Crystal meth use between 1990-2000
• PTSD in the year after Hurricane Katrina
• Changes in food production from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age

Location

Focus on a particular region or area:

• GM food crops in Hawaiʻi
• Crystal methuse in the Pacific Northwest
• PTSD in New Orleans
• Foods of Papau New Guinea

Type

Examine a specific class of people, type of thing, etc.:

• Genetically modified papayas
• Female crystal meth users
• Chronic PTSD
• Taboo foods

Relationship

How two or more topics relate to one another, using Cause and Effect, Correlation, Compare and Contrast:

• Consumer package labeling of GM foods
• Crystal meth use and unemployment
• PTSD and cigarette smoking
• Food and gender

Combining two or more of these narrowing strategies

• Economic analysis of GM papaya vs. non-GM papaya crops grown in Hawaiʻi from 1995-2005 - uses Compare and Contrast, Location, Time
• Psychological problems associated with crystal meth abuse in early adolescent girls - uses Aspect and Type
• Treatment of chronic PTSD in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina - uses Aspect, Location, Time
• Gender-specific food taboos in Papua New Guinea - uses Type, Location