SSCI 225: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

The first step in creating a search strategy is to develop a research question. To do this:

1. Choose your topic. Your topic should keep in mind the requirements of your assignment and the main topic of your course. In addition, you may want to use your own interests to influence how you choose to approach your topic. Think about what readings connected with you or how this course relates to others you're taking. You'll be spending some time with your topic, so make sure it's one you're interested in researching!
2. Perform background research. To finalize your topic, you may need to find out some additional information first. The goal of background research is to explore and get a better understanding of what information exists on your topic. You don't need to gather source information for this. Do some Google searches, look through any optional course readings, maybe look at a Wikipedia page or two. You just want to have some sense of what the major subtopics are for your topic, what questions might be unanswered and unresolved, and where research tends to be focused.
3. Create a focused research question. Once you have a topic and some background research done, develop the question that you'll be focusing on for your research. This question should be focused, clear, and relevant to your assignment or project.

Once we have a research question, it's time to create a search strategy for that question.

This video will provide an overview of how to approach your research and create a search strategy, whether you're just getting started, or deep in the middle of your project.

Download a blank Create a Search Strategy Worksheet to start on your own, or look at an example worksheet that has been filled in.