Brainstorming is the process by which ideas are produced using techniques like concept mapping, free-writing, etc. Choosing a topic can be a difficult process when starting an assignment or writing a paper, and brainstorming can be used to choose a topic or narrow down a broad topic. Narrowing your topic is an important step in the research process. A broad, general topic makes it difficult to find specified research, so narrowing down the topic is needed.

WHAT ARE KEYWORDS?

Keywords are specific words or phrases that relate to your main idea or research question. They are used in brainstorming to determine search terms to use in finding research or narrowing down a topic. Keywords can be specific search words found in your research question, synonyms, phrases, or jargon that are common in the field of study.

1. Start by writing down your broad topic.

2. Next, identify the main ideas or terms.

3. Using your list of ideas, try to describe Who, What, Where, When, How, and Why about your topic to determine specifics. Do any of these topics sound interesting? Would you be interested in researching them for your assignment? 

4. Once you have determined which words you’d like to use, combine aspects of your list to create a narrowed down topic.

Narrow research question: What are the effects of using Instagram on the behavior of adolescents?

5. Now, use these keywords and phrases to start searching for sources using the Grand Valley State University Libraries online databases.

RELATED IDEAS

• Understanding your assignment
• Brainstorming strategies:
  • Concept mapping
  • Asking questions
  • Broadening a topic
  • Choosing keywords
• Topic selection:
  • Choosing a topic from scratch
  • Choosing a topic from a theme
  • Choosing a topic with subject terms
• Developing a research question
• Finding sources