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3.7: Brainstorm More Terms

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    289229
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    Consider Broader Concepts:

    Now that you've added more facets to your topic, we'll do one last quick step before finding sources: thinking about broader concepts for each circle.

    This step isn't meant to change your topic. Instead, it helps you be flexible in case you can't find enough published research on your specific terms. You'll also see if some facets might be too broad and need a little narrowing.

    Why this matters:

    Your exact topic may not be widely covered in the literature yet (especially if you're going to do original research). Having broader terms in mind gives you backup options so your searches can still yield relevant results.

    Example: Brainstorm \(\PageIndex{1}\)
    • Graduate students - less literature than on undergrads. Broader concept: undergrads
    • Emotions - Might want to see what the literature says on cognition as well
    • Libraries - Broad concept: research projects
    Brainstorm additional terms
    Focused concept Broader or related concept
    Graduate students Undergrads
    Emotions Cognition
    Libraries Research projects
    Activity: Brainstorm \(\PageIndex{1}\)
    1. List the facets from your Venn Diagram.
    2. For each facet, consider broader or related concepts you could use if a search for your first term doesn't provide any results
    3. Use the blank table below, create one in your journal, or a Google Docs table.
    Blank table
    Brainstorm additional terms
    Focused Concept/Facet Broader Concept/Facet
       
       
       
       
       

    Next steps:

    When writing your literature review, you can include sources on these broader facets, and then contrast them with your narrowed focus. For example:

    • I might find more studies on undergrads. I can use these, but also highlight studies showing differences between undergrads and graduate students.
    • This helps make the case that more research is needed on my specific population or angle.

    We’ll come back to this later.

    Activity: Venn diagram \(\PageIndex{1}\)
    • Add your broader concepts into your Venn diagram.
    • Most topics can be visualized with only 3-4 bubbles. However, some will get more complex, especially for dissertations, and might need 5-6.
    • If you only have 1-2 circles, it is not yet a topic.
    • If you have 18 bubbles, your topic is a bit of a mess, as that would be unwieldy for a single topic. That just means that you’ll need to continue to refine your topic. You’ll refine it as you review the literature in the next chapter.

    This page titled 3.7: Brainstorm More Terms is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Frances Brady.

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