Ideas for Research Topics

If you're having difficulty coming up with an idea for your research paper, the following resources may spark some ideas. Remember, these are just suggestions to get your brain unfrozen -- don't limit yourself to these specific topics. Be creative and give the paper you write your own personal spin.

Once you've decided on a specific topic, you may find additional information by searching the UCF Library catalog for books and various databases for articles. Some of the general databases for articles include Academic Index, Academic Search Elite, and Wilson Select.

Starting Points: Contemporary Issues handouts available near the UCF Library Reference Desk provide some guidance for researching popular topics in the UCF Library's resources. Keywords, organizations, key people and web sites to use in researching 144 topics are available in Successful Keyword Searching: Initiating Research on Popular Topics Using Electronic Databases by Randall & Susan MacDonald [REF ZA4460.M33 2001].

CQ Researcher (UCF access only) provides in-depth analysis reporting on the most current and controversial issues of the day. The UCF Library also has bound volumes from 1991+ [General Collection H35.E352] and the preceding title, Editorial Research Reports [H35.E35; MFLM 1955-1968; Bound 1969-April 1991]

Cambridge Scientific Abstracts - Hot Topics (UCF access only) provides comprehensive information on current issues (arts & humanities, biomedical, technology, environmental, social sciences) with an overview of the subject, key citations with abstracts and links to web sites.

LexisNexis Congressional - Hot Bills & Hot Topics (UCF access only) provides information about selected bills that have received national attention. These bills are under consideration or have been recently enacted by Congress. Also included are topics on major issues of the day. For each hot topic, there are articles from major national and regional news sources.

America: History & Life CLIO Notes (UCF access only) guide you through US History by allowing you to browse through chronologies and hundreds of brief summaries of significant events and themes in American history. At the end of your exploration you will be provided with suggested research topics related to your area of interest and an easy-to-use search screen that will allow you to search the entire America: History and Life database for articles, book and media reviews, and dissertations. CLIO Notes are also available for World History from 1450 to the present.

Hot Topics on the Internet includes a list of hot topics supersites which have resources on many controversial topics of current interest.

Documents in the News identifies issues about government making news headlines and web sources with additional information.

Project Vote Smart provides information about political campaigns and ballot issues.

Current Topics for Research provides some current issues in the news today, with a brief list of key web pages on each subject.

Hot Topics Supersites identifies internet sites which have resources on many controversial topics of current interest.

Virtual Presentation Assistant is an online tutorial for improving your public speaking skills, with guidelines on selecting and researching your topic.

Homework Center - Social Issues provides links to meet the needs of middle and high school students researching current social issues from multiple perspectives. Some of the resources may be useful for college research papers as well.