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Education: Higher Education, Adult Learning, and Organizational Studies (HEALOS)

All Subject Specific Databases

Refining a Research Topic: A Question Flow

Start here → Where are you?


1. “I have a broad idea…”

  • What part of this big idea excites me most?
  • Who is most affected (students, teachers, policymakers, communities)?
  • In what context (K–12, higher ed, foster care, rural schools, etc.)?
  • Which outcomes matter most (achievement, equity, identity, resilience, wellbeing)?
  • If I had to finish in one semester, what slice could I realistically study?

2. “I have a super narrow idea…”

  • Why does this specific angle matter in the larger field?
  • Are there enough sources or data on this exact question?
  • Could I expand by timeframe, population, or context?
  • How does this tie into current debates or gaps?
  • Can I state the significance in 2 sentences?

3. “I don’t know where to start…”

  • What readings, classes, or real-world issues stick with me?
  • If I could fix one problem in education/society, what would it be?
  • Who or what do I feel drawn to study or advocate for?
  • Do I want to build on what I know, or try something new?
  • What’s a topic I could live with for 20–200 pages?

4. Universal Checkpoints (apply to any topic)

  • Am I asking a descriptive (what), explanatory (why/how), evaluative (does it work), or design (what could work) question?
  • What’s my unit of analysis—individuals, groups, institutions, policies, texts, communities?
  • What evidence makes sense—numbers, stories, documents, experiments, theory?
  • Who is my intended audience—scholars, practitioners, policymakers, the public?
  • What contribution do I want—fill a gap, test a theory, critique assumptions, propose solutions?

Background Information

Background sources help you build a foundation of knowledge before you dive into detailed research. They define key terms, outline major issues, and provide context so you can understand how your topic fits into a bigger picture. These resources are especially useful when you’re narrowing a research question, getting familiar with debates, or identifying keywords to use later in scholarly databases.

Databases

Databases are your gateway to scholarly journal articles, conference proceedings, dissertations, and other specialized materials. Start with the recommended five databases listed here, then branch out into additional subject-specific options as your project develops. Each database has its own features, but together they form the backbone of advanced literature searching.

Journals

Journals are where new scholarship first takes shape and enters the academic conversation. They publish peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and commentary that reflect current research and debates in a field. Use journals to follow emerging ideas, track influential authors, and ground your project in up-to-date evidence. Many journals are accessed through databases, but browsing key titles directly can also help you stay connected to ongoing discussions.

Books

Books, both print and electronic, give you broad coverage, background, and depth on your research topic. Use the UTA Libraries catalog to search across our collections, request items from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan, and access e-books instantly from your laptop or phone.

Data & Statistics 

Data and statistics databases provide the raw materials behind research—numbers, trends, and datasets you can analyze to support your own arguments. These resources range from national surveys to international indicators and specialized datasets. Start with broad collections to get a sense of what’s available, then move into discipline-specific sources for deeper analysis. Learning to navigate these databases equips you not only to find data, but also to evaluate its origins, reliability, and relevance to your work.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar can be a useful tool for quick discovery, citation chaining, and broad searching across disciplines. To get the most out of it at UTA, install the LibKey Nomad browser extension, this connects Google Scholar to UTA’s full-text subscriptions so you don’t hit unnecessary paywalls. Remember: Scholar works best as a supplement to, not a replacement for, database searching.


Libkey Nomad Setup

  1. Visit the LibKey Nomad site to select your preferred browser. You’ll then be directed to that browser’s download page to add the extension tool.
  2. Click Add when prompted.
  3. Select Organization – Choose “University of Texas at Arlington” from the drop down.
  4. Once University of Texas at Arlington is selected, the University’s logo will appear.
  5. The LibKey Nomad Logo (small green flame) will show up at the top right of browser window.
  6. When you are on an article or ebook page, a button with options for article access will appear on the bottom left. LibKey Nomad links will also display in PubMed and Wikipedia.

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