If you are not finding enough information, your topic may be too narrow.
Consider broadening it by:
- Exploring related issues
- Comparing or contrasting the topic with another topic
- Expanding the:
- time period covered
- population considered
- geographic area discussed
- Choosing an alternative topic that is not so recent -- it may not be covered in books and journal articles yet
- Choosing an alternative topic that is not so popular -- it may be covered in popular magazines and tabloids only
Narrow Topic: Does cartoon viewing cause violent behaviors in children under the age of five?
Broader Topic: What are the negative effects of television viewing on children and adolescents?
If you are finding too much information, your topic may be too broad.
Consider narrowing it by:
- Time period -- 1960's, bronze age, etc.
- Geographic location -- Denver, New York, Australia, etc.
- Population -- age, race, gender, nationality or other group
- Smaller piece of the topic:
- Genre -- jazz (music)
- Event -- Battle of the Bulge (WWII)
- Aspect -- government regulations (pollution)
- Discipline or Subject -- music (in early childhood education)
Broad Topic: Global warming
Narrower Topic: How will climate change impact sea levels and the coastal United States?
