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FORG-291 Entrepreneurship & Markets (Muhoza)

Updated for Fall 2025

Brainstorming Topics

Brainstorm for Ideas - Start Your Research - LibGuides at University of Illinois at Springfield

This flowchart, based on chapter 2 of Kevin Michael Klipfel and Dani Brecher Cook's book Learner-Centered Pedagogy: Principles and Practice, is a good place to start brainstorming research topic ideas.

Having trouble coming up with a research topic?  Try using one (or more) of the strategies below to brainstorm some ideas, or check out the resources under the "Find Inspiration" tab to identify possible topics of interest:

  • Freewriting – take 10-15 minutes to write anything that comes to mind without stopping to think about spelling, grammar, punctuation, or if it even makes sense.
  • Mind/Concept mapping – start with a main idea in the middle and draw spokes out for additional related concepts or terms.  After creating the mind map, look at it to identify patterns or areas of interest.
  • Bullet list – start with your main topic then add subtopics and concepts to touch upon beneath. Similar to a mind map, but in outline form, so it's slightly more structured.
  • 3 Perspectives – this strategy helps you look at your concept from different angles, so you can decide how you might want to approach it in your research.  Answer questions related to the following three perspectives:
    • Describe it
    • Trace it (what’s the history of your subject/topic?)
    • Map it (what is your subject related to?  What does it influence or is influenced by? Etc.)
  • Cubing – this strategy helps you look at your topic from 6 different perspectives and brainstorm different ways to approach it in your research by responding to the following prompts:
    • Describe it
    • Compare it
    • Associate it
    • Analyze it
    • Apply it
    • Argue for and against it
  • Journalistic questions – asking journalistic questions (i.e. Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How) helps you brainstorm different areas of interest related to your topic, or areas you want to learn more about.  Writing questions down can also help you identify patterns in your thinking, or foundational information you need to get in order to better understand your topic.

This list is based off the "Brainstorming" handout by the Writing Center for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Doing Pre-Research

What is "Pre-Research"?

Pre-research is what you do when you're just beginning to brainstorm or explore a potential research topic.  Pre-research typically involves doing basic internet searches to learn more about the topic and discover potential aspects of your topic to focus your research on that interest you.  During pre-research you are beginning to build background knowledge on your topic, identify key terms you might use to search library databases for more authoritative sources later, and generating additional questions, or areas of intrigue about your topic to explore further.  To do this you might look at some Wikipedia articles, news articles, or websites related to your topic. You probably won't end up using any of these resources as sources in your final project, but this is an important stage in the research process because it helps you better understand your topic, begin turning the topic into a research question, and starts you on the path to find more credible, authoritative, and scholarly sources, which you will cite in your final project.

Simple Guide to Pre-Research

  1. Do a quick internet search of your topic
  2. Scan some Wikipedia articles, news articles, or websites related to your topic
  3. Write down common "buzzwords" you come across
  4. Write down any questions or thoughts that occur to you during this process

Research Papers

Diagram depicting the main parts of a research paper (title/author/abstract/keywords, introduction, methods, results, discussion/conclusion, and references).

This diagram from Peachessay.com does a good job of illustrating the main components of a research paper.  Almost every research paper that you will read or write in the course of your academic career will follow the same structure, beginning with an introduction, following with a methods section, then a results section, and concluding with a discussion.  IMRaD is a helpful acronym to remember the parts and order of a standard research paper. 

Parts of a Research Paper

Introduction

The introduction provides background information on your topic and explains the purpose of the research.  It also typically ends with a thesis that indicates the direction the rest of the paper will take, and that is based upon a research question.

Method

The methods sections explains how you conducted the research and includes information such as the research design, measures and variables used, and how you collected and analyzed the data.

Findings/Results

The findings or results section provides the answer to your research question by detailing what you learned or discovered through analyzing the information gathered through your research.

Discussion/Conclusion

The final section(s) provide interpretations of the findings and may discuss the practical implications.  Limitations of the study and opportunities for additional research are also often addressed.  The conclusion also summarizes everything discussed in the research paper and ties it back to the thesis statement.

Visit the links below for additional information and guidance on writing and structuring a research paper.

Literature reviews are thorough examinations of the body of literature available on a given topic to understand the current landscape, what has already been researched, what questions have been answered, and what questions remain, or can be explored further.  Doing a literature review can be helpful for building background information on a topic and will allow you to better determine how your research can fill in gaps in the existing research.  For additional information on literature reviews, including guidance on how to conduct one, read "Doing a Literature Review," by Jeffrey Knopf, linked below.

A research question is the basis for your research.  It is the primary question you seek to answer through your research.  You may have more than one research question throughout the course of your research, but articulating a question (or questions) can help focus your research and help you find the most relevant sources.  Remember, a good research question must:

  • Focus on a specific aspect of a subject or topic
  • Be a full sentence or question
  • Be answerable or arguable
  • Be of interest to the discipline or society

You might find it helpful to use a template like the one proposed by Booth, Colomb, and Williams in The Craft of Research:

I am (researching / studying) __________ because I want to find out (who / what / when / where / why / how / whether) ___________ to help my audience understand ____________.

Types of Sources

What are Articles?

Articles are shorter written works that are contained or published within a larger work such as a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

When should I use Articles?

In general, articles are best used when you are looking for current, reliable information. 

Articles May be Useful When... Articles May NOT be Useful When...

 Your topic is very recent
Articles, especially in newspapers and magazines, are intended to keep people up-to-date on the latest development in various issues, so they are very useful if you are tracking new developments and progress of a topic.
Example: The most recent debate and developments surrounding the issue of gay marriage and civil unions

 You need background or overview information
You cannot trace the whole history of an issue in one magazine or journal article!
Example: Causes of the civil war in the United States

 Your topic is very narrow in scope
Sometimes you are interested in something so specific that there will not be whole books written about the topic!
Example: The correlation of SAT scores to college success in the tri-state area

 Your topic covers a long time span
When something has a long history, you may only find one aspect discussed in a magazine or journal article
Example: The impact of Brown vs. Board of Education on the public school system in the US

(Table content from WCSU Libraries "Research Basics" guide, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International License)

What are Books and eBooks?

Books are typically longer works written by experts that are self-contained or published as themselves.

eBooks are "electronic books" that have been published in a digital format.

When should I use Books?

In general, books are best used when you are looking for in-depth background information. 

Books May be Useful When... Books May NOT be Useful When...

 You need a broad overview
There are times when you want someone to explain everything to you - beginning to end. Books are very appropriate for this.
Example: An overview of the legal, moral and medical issues surrounding right-to-die

 The topic is very recent
Books take an awfully long time (years!) to get published, purchased and put on library shelves. If the issue you are researching is constantly changing, a book may be outdated by the time it arrives in the library.
Example: The latest information about the parental consent debate for underage abortions

 Your research topic is historical
Books lend themselves to topics in which the facts don't change much over time.
Example: A detailed account of the development of the civil rights movement in the United States

 You have a fairly narrow topic
Sometimes books just cover too much and offer too many perspectives.
Example: The theme of isolation and desperation in Charlotte Perkins Gillman's "The Yellow Wallpaper"
 You want several opinions from one place
You will find there are books with "collected essays" that will give you several points of view in one compact source.
Example: Commentary and criticism on Shakespeare's Hamlet		  

(Table content from WCSU Libraries "Research Basics" guide, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International License)

What are Films & Videos?

Films and videos are visual recordings that usually include audio and cover information related to a specific topic.

When should I use Films & Videos?

In general, films and videos are best used when you need a broad overview or introduction to a topic or subject. 

Films/Videos May be Useful When... Films/Videos May NOT be Useful When...

 Your topic requires witnessing real events or situations
Films and videos provide visual records of historical events, cultural practices, or natural phenomena. They allow viewers to witness situations that may be difficult or impossible to experience in real life.
Example: Analysis of delivery techniques used by Martin Luther King Jr. during his "I Have a Dream" speech

 You need credible or scholarly information
While some films and videos like documentaries or educational videos can provide factual information, they do not go through the same rigorous review process and are less reliable.
Example: Impact of social media on mental health

 Your topic includes personal testimonies
Films and videos can feature interviews with experts or individuals who have personal experiences related to your topic. This can provide valuable insights, perspectives, and storytelling elements that enhance your understanding and engagement with the subject.
Example: Impact of climate change on people living in certain areas

 Your topic covers a long time span
When something has a long history, you may only find one aspect covered in a film or video
Example: The impact of Brown vs. Board of Education on the public school system in the US

 Your topic is a comparative analysis of different forms or adaptations of a specific work
Films and videos may be relevant sources if you are comparing a written work with a film adaptation or two films telling the same story from different eras.
Example: Comparison of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night with the 2006 movie She's the Man

  Your topic is on a complex issue requiring in-depth information
Films and videos generally have a limited runtime, which restricts their ability to cover complex or expansive topics comprehensively.
Example: Benefits and challenges of establishing universal healthcare in the United States

What are Web Resources?

Web Resources are websites, pages, or other online content that you can find just by searching the internet through your browser. Basically, anything that you can find by searching Google is considered a web resource.

When should I use Web Resources?

In general, web resources can be a helpful first step in your research to identify useful keywords to search library databases and gather basic information about your topic. 

In most cases, web resources will not be considered scholarly enough to include as sources in your research assignments.

Web Resources May be Useful When... Web Resources May NOT be Useful When...

 You are just beginning your research and need to come up with key terms to use for your searches
Web resources can provide helpful, generic background information that you can use to develop your topic and identify more specific keywords or terms for searching library databases.
Example: You need more information on the Black Panthers to determine which aspects to research for your assignment

 You need credible or scholarly information
Since anyone can publish information on the internet, web resources are generally considered unreliable because they do not go through a rigorous review process before being published.
Example: Impact of social media on mental health

 Your topic involves finding different perspectives or how different people respond to societal events or information
Since anyone can publish on the web, especially on social media platforms, web resources can be a good way to collect examples of how specific individuals feel about certain topics.
Example: How people in different societal groups reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic

 Your topic is on a complex issue requiring in-depth information
Since most web resources are not written by scholars or experts in the field, their content is likely to have less depth and analysis and instead provide only a broad overview or understanding of the topic.
Example: Benefits and challenges of establishing universal healthcare in the United States

 You need statistics usually collected by a government agency
The government collects and publicly publishes statistics in many areas including education, socioeconomic data, health, and information on foreign nations, among others.
Example: Variation in unemployment and poverty rates across the United States

  You need a source that can be verified by your professor
Web resources are not stable. Their content and location can change at any given moment, so if you require a source that your professor or reader can refer to to verify your information, you should avoid using a web resource.
Example: You quote a statistic from a Wikipedia article that later gets updated

 Your topic or assignment will benefit from the usage of multimedia resources
Web resources can include multimedia content, such as videos, images, and interactive tools, which can enhance your research.
Example: A research assignment on the cultural significance of music festivals might benefit from the inclusion of photos, video, or audio recording of such events and the people that attend them

  

Get Help with Your Research - Susan

Meet Your Librarian!

Susan Chatham

Social Sciences & Data Librarian
Office: RLITC A38
Email: susan.chatham@trincoll.edu