Research Guides: Peabody Library Research Channel: Select a Topic

Choosing a Topic

Developing Your Research Topic Worksheets

Research Topic Worksheet
Use this template to help you brainstorm and refine your research topic.
Research Journey Worksheet
Research is a process. This worksheet takes you step-by-step through the process of defining your research questions to strategically searching for resources using library databases.

Picking a Topic

To browse possible topics or get inspired by current events, check out these databases:

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Coverage of the most important issues of the day, written by experienced journalists, footnoted and professionally fact-checked. Articles include an overview, historical background, chronology, pro/con feature, and resources for additional research.
Coverage: 1991 to present.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context (OV or OVIC) This link opens in a new window
Pro and con articles on important social, political, and economic issues. Reference articles that provide context, magazines, newspapers, primary source documents, government and organizational statistics, and links.
User Limit: 7.

The New York Times
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Follow the steps below to start or renew your subscription to the New York Times:

Navigate to www.accessnyt.com
Search for and select "Vanderbilt University". You will be redirected to the NYT registration page.
If you have previously registered your @vanderbilt.edu email address on the NYT site, you will click the "Already have an account? Log in here" link.
Verify your account (you will receive a confirmation email). You must click the link in this email to complete the registration. Please note that the confirmation email may be routed to your spam folder.

Once registered, users will have 364 days of full account access at www.nytimes.com. If you still have questions, please contact newsdesk@list.vanderbilt.edu.

K-12 Education Topics

Here are some of the current research topics in K-12 education:

pandemic response
online learning
school choice
school safety
classroom size
bullying
technology
school funding
student health
student attitudes & behaviors
parent involvement

Higher Education Topics

The following topics are from the 2020 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report^™ | Teaching and Learning Edition. This report profiles key trends and emerging technologies and practices shaping the future of teaching and learning and envisions a number of scenarios and implications for that future. Trends are listed by category below:

Social

Well-Being and Mental Health
Demographic Changes
Equity and Fair Practices

Technological

Artificial Intelligence: Technology Implications
Next-Generation Digital Learning Environment (NGDLE)
Analytics and Privacy Questions

Economic

Cost of Higher Education
Future of Work and Skills
Climate Change

Higher Education

Changes in Student Population
Alternative Pathways to Education
Online Education

Political

Decrease in Higher Education Funding
Value of Higher Education
Political Polarization