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Selecting a Research Topic

This guide provides tips on how to select a topic for a research project and how to narrow it down.

EBSCO's Research Starters

Research Starters is a feature available when searching DragonQuest. You may notice when you enter a generic search term into DragonQuest that a research starter is your first result.

If available, research starters appear at the top of you search results in DragonQuest.

Research Starter entries are similar to a Wikipedia entry of the topic, but Research Starters are pulled from quality sources such as Salem Press, Encyclopedia Britannica, and American National Biography. Research Starters can be a great place to begin your research, if you're not yet sure about your topic details.

Using Research Starters

To use Research Starters click on the title just as you would for any other DragonQuest entry. You will then find a broad overview of the topic. This entry is great for finding

  • Subtopics that can narrow your searching
     
  • Background information to support your claims
     
  • Sources you can use and cite in your research

We do not recommend that you use Research Starters as a source itself though, because of the difficulties in citation.

Citing Research Starters

We recommend that you cite a Research Starter as an encyclopedia entry.  You can also use the Tools menu on the left side of the Research Starter page to get a pre-made citation.  All you have to do is copy and paste the citation from the webpage and into your document.

For assistance on citing sources, view our APA and MLA style guides below.