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Syracuse University Libraries

Research Process: Getting Started: D. Broaden/Narrow Topic

A guide to assist students in conducting research using the wide variety of information sources available to them.

Broaden/Narrow Topic

Once you begin searching for information in sources, you may end up with an overwhelming number of results. This may be because your topic is too broad. On the other hand, if your search is not returning any results, it may be because your topic is too narrow and you need to choose more general search terms.

If your search is returning too many results, you can add more specific terms to your topic or question.

Sample Topics

Broad

Topic: student time management issues

Search Terms: students, time management, problems

 

Narrow

Topic: The impact of undergraduate student time management problems on academic achievement

Search Terms: higher education, students, time management, academic performance