CAMP Summer Science Academy (CSSA)

Before conducting any research in scholarly literature, gain a thorough background in your topic area through easily available tools like Google or Wikipedia. This "pre-research" stage is important for you to gain vocabulary and terms that people use when discussing your research topic.

In addition to basic Internet sources, the library resources listed below can be helpful in understanding topics and their social implications.

In addition to searching for topics online or in encyclopedias/resources like CQ Researcher, you may also find topics by browsing science publications or news feeds. Here are some examples: 

• New York Times Science section (activate your complimentary NY Times subscription here) 
• Science 
  • Current Issue
  • Archives
• Nature
  • Current Issue
  • Archives

Once you have selected a topic, start to write down or map out what you know about the topic. This can help you refine your topic into a research question. Identify gaps in your knowledge, stakeholders in the topic, populations affected by this topic, and/or related topics. Clarify your own interests or assumptions about the topic. Consider limiting the scope of your research to a specific time period or geographic area if it makes sense.

Questions like these may help:

• Who? Who are the population(s) affected by or involved in this topic? Who has a stake in the future of this topic? Who is studying this topic? 
• What? What specific aspect of the broad topic idea is interesting to you? What debates might exist around this topic?
• Where? Where, geographically, would you like to limit your research?
• When? On what time period would you like your research focused?
• Why? Why do you think this is an important/interesting topic? Why do people care about this topic?