PSY 150 -- General Psychology

It Starts With an Idea...

Choose a topic that you're interested in

Research is more fun and more relevant to your life if you care about what you're learning.

Keep it relevant

Read the assignment and make sure the topic you choose meets your instructor's requirements.

Find the question

A good topic starts as a research question.  The research you conduct in the Library will give you the information you need to answer that question.  See Library Lingo below to learn more about research questions.

Where to find ideas...

• Class discussions or readings.
• Conversations with family and friends about current events or topics related to psychology
• Find the most talked-about trends in psychology by doing a Google News Search link will open in a new window
• Read the table of contents for a major journal in psychology.  Look for subjects that come up often. (You'll find links to  journals below.)
• Use the "Browse" feature in Library databases and reputable websites related to Psychology. (A few are listed below.)

Find links to some places to get you started on topic choice below...

Research Question: What are you trying to find out?  Your research question reflects the main idea of your paper or assignment.  It will guide every step of your research.  The research you conduct is your attempt to answer this question.  

Be aware: Your research question may change as you conduct research.  That's OK!  Opinions and arguments change as you learn more about your topic, and your research question should evolve to reflect this deeper understanding.

This helpful video from North Carolina State University Libraries link will open in a new windowwindow will give you some more information about how Choosing a Topic fits into the larger research process, and why it's so important!

Need a little extra help?

Contact your librarian. 

Or use the links below to get more in-depth help and information.