By Rajiv S. Jhangiani, I-Chant A. Chiang, Carrie Cuttler and Dana C. Leighton, adapted by Marc Chao and Muhamad Alif Bin Ibrahim

Good research starts with a strong research question, but arriving at one can feel like an overwhelming task for novice researchers. Crafting meaningful and testable questions often seems like a mysterious or even magical process, with experienced researchers appearing to pluck ideas out of thin air. However, research on creativity suggests that generating research questions is not an arcane skill but the product of consistent effort, ordinary thinking strategies, and persistence (Weisberg, 1993). In reality, finding a research topic is a creative yet structured process, one that blends curiosity with critical analysis.

Finding Inspiration for Research Ideas

Most research questions begin as broader, more general ideas. These often revolve around behaviours, psychological traits, or phenomena, such as talkativeness, memory, anxiety, or motivation. These initial ideas are then refined and shaped into specific, empirically testable research questions. But where do these initial sparks of curiosity come from?

One of the most common sources of inspiration is informal observation. These are everyday observations of behaviour, whether from personal experiences, interactions with others, or secondhand accounts through books, blogs, news articles, or social media. For example, you might notice that you always seem to pick the slowest-moving line at the grocery store and wonder if everyone feels the same way. Or you might read a story about people rallying to help a family after a fire and start thinking about what motivates people to donate money or resources to strangers. Many famous psychological studies originated from informal observations. Stanley Milgram’s groundbreaking research on obedience to authority was sparked by accounts from Nazi war crime trials, where defendants repeatedly claimed they were “just following orders”. Milgram turned this observation into a powerful research question: How far will ordinary people go in obeying authority figures, even if it means committing morally questionable acts?

Another significant source of research ideas is practical problems. Practical issues often inspire applied research in areas like health, education, law, and public safety. For example, researchers may ask whether taking handwritten notes improves academic performance compared to typing notes on a laptop. Others might investigate whether psychotherapy is more effective than medication for treating depression, or how cell phone use affects driving ability. These questions stem from real-world concerns and have tangible impacts on people’s lives.

However, the most common source of research questions is previous research. Science thrives on collaboration and continuity. Researchers frequently identify gaps, inconsistencies, or intriguing results in existing studies that inspire their own investigations. Experienced researchers often have long lists of potential questions based on their familiarity with the literature. For those just starting out, consulting faculty members or exploring academic journals can provide a wealth of ideas. Simply flipping through a recent issue of a journal like Psychological Science might reveal articles on everything from memory formation and social biases to emotional regulation and second-language acquisition. Focusing on a specific area of interest, such as childhood development or cognitive neuroscience, can further streamline the search.

For more ideas on how to develop a good research topic, watch the following video by KStateLibraries [4:33]:

Reviewing the Research Literature

Once a general idea or question has taken shape, the next step is to review the research literature, the body of published scientific studies related to your topic. Reviewing the literature is not just about gathering information; it is about discovering what has already been studied, identifying gaps or inconsistencies, and refining your question to ensure it contributes something meaningful to the field.

A thorough literature review serves several purposes. First, it helps determine whether your question has already been answered. If a question has been thoroughly explored, it might suggest a new direction or angle for investigation. Second, it helps gauge whether the question is interesting and meaningful enough to pursue. Third, it provides insight into methodologies used in similar studies, offering valuable guidance for designing your own research. Finally, it helps clarify how your study will fit into the broader context of existing knowledge.

However, not all sources are equally valuable. The research literature in psychology primarily consists of articles published in professional journals and scholarly books. While popular psychology books, websites, and encyclopaedias may offer insights, they are generally considered unreliable because they are not subjected to rigorous peer review. For example, while Wikipedia can be a useful starting point for general information, its dynamic and anonymous editing process makes it unsuitable as a primary academic source.

Professional Journals: The Core of Research Literature

Professional journals are central to the research literature in psychology. They publish original empirical studies and review articles, serving as a platform for sharing findings, theories, and analyses with the academic community.

Most journal articles fall into one of two categories: empirical research reports and review articles. Empirical research reports describe new studies conducted by the authors, presenting their research question, methodology, results, and conclusions. Review articles, on the other hand, synthesise findings from multiple studies to provide a broader understanding of a topic. Some review articles propose new theories (theoretical articles), while others statistically analyse results from multiple studies (meta-analyses).

What sets professional journals apart is their peer review process. When researchers submit an article to a journal, it undergoes double-blind peer review. This means that the identities of both the authors and reviewers are concealed, ensuring that feedback remains unbiased. Reviewers, who are experts in the field, critically evaluate the study’s methods, results, and interpretations, providing constructive feedback and recommendations to the journal editor. The editor then decides whether to accept, revise, or reject the manuscript based on these reviews.

In recent years, open-access journals have gained popularity. These journals make published articles freely available to anyone, removing barriers to accessing scientific knowledge. Some open-access journals also embrace open peer review, where reviewer identities are disclosed alongside published articles to promote transparency and accountability.

Scholarly Books

Scholarly books play a vital role in the dissemination of scientific knowledge in psychology and related fields. These books are primarily written by researchers and practitioners for an audience of fellow researchers, practitioners, and advanced students. Unlike popular psychology books, which are often aimed at a general audience and may lack scientific rigour, scholarly books undergo a more rigorous peer-review process to ensure accuracy, relevance, and quality.

Scholarly books generally fall into two main categories: monographs and edited volumes. A monograph is typically authored by a single researcher or a small group of authors. It provides a deep and coherent exploration of a specific topic, much like an extended review article. Monographs are often structured to build a clear narrative or argument, drawing on extensive research and analysis.

In contrast, edited volumes are collaborative works where an editor, or a small team of editors, curates chapters written by multiple contributors. Each chapter usually explores a different aspect of the overarching topic. While edited volumes can offer a comprehensive overview of a subject, the perspectives presented in each chapter may vary, and sometimes contributors even openly disagree with one another. This diversity of viewpoints can provide valuable insight into ongoing debates and areas of uncertainty within a field.

Both monographs and edited volumes contribute significantly to the research literature, serving as key resources for deep dives into specialised topics, theoretical advancements, or emerging trends in psychology.

Literature Search Strategies

Research in psychology relies heavily on navigating the extensive body of scholarly literature. To effectively find, evaluate, and utilise this literature, researchers use a range of search strategies and specialised tools.

Using PsycINFO and Other Databases

One of the most powerful tools for accessing research literature is PsycINFO, an electronic database maintained by the American Psychological Association (APA). PsycINFO is unparalleled in its comprehensiveness, covering thousands of journals, books, and chapters, with records dating back over a century. For most psychologists, PsycINFO essentially serves as a gateway to the research literature in the field.

Other useful databases include Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, and ProQuest, which cover a broad range of academic disciplines. Specialised databases like ERIC focus on education, while PubMed caters to medicine and health-related fields. Most university libraries provide access to these databases, making them essential tools for any literature search.

Each entry in PsycINFO includes essential details such as publication information, abstracts summarising the research, and lists of cited references. Importantly, entries are tagged with keywords and index terms that help categorise content systematically. For example, all research on sex differences is indexed under “Human Sex Differences”, and studies on note-taking strategies are indexed under “Learning Strategies”. If you are unsure which terms to use, PsycINFO includes a thesaurus that suggests standardised search terms.

Effective searching often requires refining your search terms. For example, a search for the term “memory” will yield millions of results, making it nearly impossible to sift through them. By consulting the thesaurus and narrowing the term to “early memories” and then combining it with “Human Sex Differences”, you can focus your search on highly relevant studies.

Many PsycINFO platforms allow users to save, print, or email search results. Some even provide direct links to full-text versions of articles through databases like PsycARTICLES. If full-text access is not available, you may need to check your library’s holdings or request materials through interlibrary loan services. Do not hesitate to ask a librarian for help, they are trained experts in navigating these databases.

To learn how to find specific journal articles using filters in APA PsycInfo, watch the following video by the American Psychological Association [2:26]:

Using Additional Search Techniques

While databases like PsycINFO are invaluable, they are not the only tools for conducting a literature search. Additional strategies can enhance your search process. If you find a particularly relevant article or book chapter, do not stop there. Explore its reference list for additional sources cited by the authors. These references often lead to other foundational or complementary studies.

Alternatively, if you have a classic or influential article on your topic, you can use PsycINFO or Google Scholar to see which newer studies have cited it. This technique often reveals the latest developments and discussions building on that foundational work. Google Scholar is another powerful tool. While it includes both scholarly and non-scholarly sources, it can quickly identify academic articles, open-access papers, and researcher profiles.

You might also perform a general internet search, which can sometimes lead to preprint versions of papers, articles hosted on researchers’ personal websites, or additional resources not captured by traditional academic databases.

Finally, talking to experts in your field, such as instructors, faculty members, or experienced researchers, can provide invaluable guidance. These individuals often have deep familiarity with the research landscape and can recommend must-read articles, books, or emerging topics worth exploring.

To learn how to use the advanced features on Google Scholar, watch the following video by CLIP [7:02]:

What to Look for in a Literature Search

Not every source you find will be equally valuable. A good literature review focuses on sources that serve four primary purposes: refining your research question, identifying effective research methods, situating your research within existing knowledge, and supporting your argument for why your question is interesting.

When evaluating sources, recentness is often a crucial factor. In fast-moving fields, research published within the past year or two may be most relevant. In more established areas, studies from the past decade may still hold significant value. However, classic studies, which are frequently cited and foundational to a topic, should not be overlooked, even if they are older.

Review articles are particularly valuable at the start of your literature search. These articles provide comprehensive overviews of a topic, summarising key findings, highlighting trends, and identifying areas of debate or uncertainty.

Equally important are empirical research reports that address your specific question or similar ones. These studies often offer concrete examples of methodologies and measurement techniques you can adapt for your own research.

Lastly, look for contextual information that helps explain the significance of your research question. For instance, if your topic is the effect of cell phone use on driving performance, finding statistics on traffic accidents caused by distracted driving can help emphasise the importance of your study.

How Many Sources Are Enough?

The number of sources needed for a literature review varies widely depending on the topic, research goals, and scope of the project. Professional journal articles often cite an average of around 50 sources (Adair & Vohra, 2003). For student projects, the required number may be significantly lower, but the principles for selecting high-quality sources remain the same.

The goal is not to accumulate the largest number of citations but to ensure that the sources you include are relevant, reliable, and valuable for shaping your research question, designing your methodology, and framing your conclusions.

References

Adair, J. G., & Vohra, N. (2003). The explosion of knowledge, references, and citations: Psychology’s unique response to a crisis. American Psychologist, 58(1), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.58.1.15

Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), 371–378. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0040525

Weisberg, R. W. (1993). Creativity: Beyond the myth of genius. W. H. Freeman.