Researchable Topics

Before getting too far along in a project, make sure your topic can be researched.

Researchable topics:

• can be investigated through data collection and analysis
• have theoretical or practical significance
• are connected to field in a logical way and grounded in existing background, theory, or practice

Example: The impact of using technology in middle school math classes.

Non-Researchable Topics

• address philosophical or ethical issues
• cannot be resolved through data collection and analysis
• address opinions

Example: Using technology is the best way to teach math to middle school students.

Consult with your advisor and a librarian to help determine the researchability of your idea.

If your topic is researchable...

Perform some preliminary searches.
Here are some tips:

Step 1

Pull basic keywords from your topic:


technology AND math AND middle school

Step 2

Run the search through multiple databases and search engines.

Try more than one place for your search; different databases and search engines have access to different sources. You may find that one resource gives you better results than another.

Not sure where to start? Try:

• Google Scholar
• ABI/Inform Complete
• Education Journals

Step 3

Scan the titles and abstracts of your search results - do they appear to match your topic?

The search doesn’t have to be successful in ALL of the resources...

...but you should feel as though you are retrieving enough information to support the topic for the particular assignment guidelines.

Step 4

When looking at the titles and abstracts of your search results ask yourself if you are seeing a good range of resources.

Too few usable Results?

Too Many Results?

UnRelated Results?

Step 5

Results Match Requirements?

Check results against the requirements for the assignment. You may not be finding the right type of sources for your assignment...

Do you need...

• Scholarly sources?
• Case studies?
• Literature reviews?
• Empirical data?

Make sure the results contain what you need.

Use the database’s filters to check for scholarly sources, document type, etc.

If you've gotten through these steps, your topic is probably researchable.

Checklist

• Pull keywords from topic.
• Search in multiple databases.
• Ensure the search yields information in multiple databases.
• Ensure results match the topic.
• Ensure results match the assignment.