How to choose a research topic that is both interesting and has enough sources?

[Lester]

I feel like I've finally cracked the code on this after my disastrous first attempt at a research paper last semester. I picked a topic I was passionate about—like, super niche indie film theory—only to find out there were like, three academic papers ever written on it. The panic was real.

So, here's my new two-step strategy for balancing passion with practicality. I call it the "Tinder Swipe Method." You gotta find the sweet spot.

1. Start with a broad interest area. Don't start with a specific question yet. Just pick a pond you want to fish in, like "social media's effect on teenagers" or "renewable energy policy."
2. Do a preliminary source reconnaissance mission. Go to your library database or Google Scholar. Throw in some keywords related to your broad interest. What you're looking for is volume. If you search and only get 20 results, that pond might be too shallow. But if you get 20,000 results, you know there's a conversation happening. You have material to work with.
3. Look for the arguments. Now, dive into those 20,000 results. Don't read them all, obvi. Read the abstracts. What you're looking for is debate. Are scholars disagreeing about something? Is there a specific case study everyone analyzes? Is there a gap in the research they mention? That's your opening! That debate is your interesting angle.

For example, "social media and teenagers" is broad. But after scoping sources, you might find a heated debate about whether it's the cause of mental health issues or just correlated. Now your topic is: "Examining the causal link between Instagram use and anxiety in teens: a review of the literature." It's interesting and you know the sources exist because you just saw them. Hope this helps!

 

[Melissa]

Lester this is literally what I needed to hear. I've been picking topics based on "this sounds cool" and then panicking when I can't find sources. The "20 results vs 20,000 results" check is so simple but I've never done it. Screenshotting this for my next paper!