Selecting a topic
Find a topic
Topics don't grow on trees. Explore topics with this web site and database.
Start by browsing this resource:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, 4th ed.
- 900 topic overview articles.
- Use the Table of Contents. Click the triangles to open lists
- Psychology Today: Search for articles inside this magazine.There are 100,000+ articles in this popular magazine (sold at supermarkets). Enter your search terms in a blank search box. These articles don't have academic credibility, but they can point you to interesting research that is. Right now, it is about getting ideas.
- Today's Science This link opens in a new windowAn online reader's digest of science news. Search your topics.
Suggestions for topics
How to create research questions using lists of psychological variables [Slides presentation]
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Psychology often studies the relationship of two variables. This presentation shows how you can mix and match variables with different populations to ask a question and form a study.
Identifying Keywords
1. State your topic as a question.
What is the relationship between sleep and creativity?
2. Identify 2 -3 essential concepts in the question
What is the relationship between sleep and creativity?
3. Identify synonyms for each concept, or examples of each concept, as well as other closely-related concepts.
| Concept 1: Sleep | Concept 2: Creativity | |
| Synonym: REM | Synonym: "Problem Solving" | |
| Synonym: | Synonym: Ingenuity |
4. Use keywords and synonyms to find relevant books, articles, and websites about your topic. As you read through articles and books, write down any additional related keywords that may be relevant to your topic.
