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MGT 3320 : Human Resource Management

Step One

Step 1:  Identify and Develop a Topic

 

  • Topic=  Broadly defined Subject area
  • Research Question=narrower focus of the topic
    • Why are you researching?
    • What do you want to know about the topic?
  • Suggestions for picking a topic and a research question:
    • Discuss with your professor or classmates
    • Identify something that you are passionate about
    • Scan professional and trade publications for current trends on your TOPIC, and select a RESEARCH QUESTION based on that.
 Image: Drawing of a man with a thought bubble containing a lightbulb, indicating an idea

Step Two

​Step 2:  Develop an Overview of the Topic

  • Do background research on the topic--find out what you can about your topic.
  • Do background research on the different parts of your research question
  • Refine your research question—you may have picked a question that is very general and you need to make it more specific (or vice-versa).
  • Useful sources for finding background information
    • GENERAL ENCYCLOPEDIAS
    • SUBJECT ENCYCLOPEDIASClick here
    • BOOKS—look at table of contents and index
    • PERIODICALS/JOURNALSBrowzine
    • NEWSPAPERS
    • SUBJECT DICTIONARIES
    • ALMANACS
    • RESEARCH STARTER
SELECTING KEYWORDS
  • Know what you are looking for first!
  • Going to a search engine, library catalog, or database and simply typing in words for inspiration will lead quickly to frustration
  • Typing in your entire question almost never works.

Research Question