We suggest two great ways to define your topic:
1. Ask yourself who, what, where, when, why and how questions about your topic. Using cyber security as an example of a "too broad" topic, we can ask who? (what countries are responsible for hacking? who performs hacking for corporate espionage? who is affected?); why? and what? (why do people hack? what do they gain? what do they risk? what impact do they have?); how? (types of malware, types of social engineering) and where? (on networks, computers, phones, smart devices). To define you topic, your might decide to research how a specific group of hackers exploits a specific type of malware to extort money from corporations.
2. Create a concept map. To create a concept map, write down your broad topic in the middle of a piece of paper. Then brainstorm associated ideas. Similarly to the above example, the terms you write down will likely be good directions to take when defining your topic.
This is a general Research Help guide for DLM 120: Imagining the Future.
This Research Help guide is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of sources. Rather, it can serve as a starting point to begin your research.
If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, make an appointment to speak with a reference librarian.
What is a peer reviewed source? A peer-reviewed source is one written by a credentialed expert in a given field and reviewed by other credentialed experts in that field before publication. In this way, its evidence, methodology, analysis and conclusions are assured to be sound and unbiased.
