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CO303 Communication Research

Break Up the Topic

Think about how you can break your search topic into different aspects, including:

* forms of media (television, Internet, news, advertising,  etc.), * groups (women, college students, immigrants, etc.) * concepts (race, sexuality, marketing, body image, etc.), * specific theories

Search for these aspects separately or in combination.  

Think of alternative and related terms to use  so that you don't miss anything.

Steps to Effective Research

These steps outline a simple and effective strategy for conducting your research. We are ready to help you at every step in your research.


  • Identify a Topic of Interest
  • Find the Context: Background Information 
  • Develop a Research Question
  • Locate Sources 
  • Evaluate What You Find
  • Cite What You Find

Video Tutorial: Narrow Your Research Topic

Creative Commons License, McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph