Topic Analysis

Topic Analysis.

Adapted by Dixiana Parada from:

Boridy, Ellen J. , UC Irving Librarian. Eight Simple Steps to Topic Analysis. Lecture transcript in Lebauer, Roni S. Learn to Listen; Listen to Learn. U.S.A.: Pearson, 1997. pp 32-35.

We can think of libraries as storehouses of information where you go looking for some pieces of it; very much like in a supermarket you go looking for and shopping for groceries. For acquiring information in a library setting, we have to keep in mind that this process can be a frustrating experience for almost anyone (student, academic, professor,) if the search is disorganised. In order to help someone organise the search of information in a library, there is a thought process that they can go through before actually setting a foot in any library; that is, we are talking about a pre-research process.

The process consists in eight steps, which are designed to help anyone organise their thoughts about a particular subject, identify different ways of looking at the topic (e.g. in a more focused

way, in a broader way,) to look at the topic more creatively. In other words, these eight steps can help anyone to look at a subject analytically and critically, so they, as researchers, can understand the topic better.

These steps were designed assuming that the researcher already has a topic in mind, because selecting a topic also involves many things, which are not discussed here.

1. Survey/clarify. The first step has two items

a. To survey the topic. This means to look for the broadest discussion you can find in a particular topic. This can be found in encyclopaedia articles, newspaper articles or magazine articles, which are aimed at a very general audience. With this, you can test if you are really interested in researching the topic by getting a broad view of it.

b. To clarify unfamiliar terms. When surveying, you find the type of language (vocabulary, jargon) that is used to discuss the topic. Here you can go and define some unfamiliar terms. This will help you to feel more comfortable when doing the in-depth research, because you understand the language.

2. Break into subtopics.

The second step is to look at how you can break your topic into subtopics, as all topics are formed by several connected subtopics.

Example: Divorce -very broad

-Who are the people affected?

-Financial money issues

-Religious issues

-Legal issues

-Geographically, which countries are more affected? Why?

-Chronologically, what historic events have influenced the trends of divorce rate?

3. Figure out what type of information is needed.

a. Primary. As primary information, we understand an eyewitness account of an event; this is someone who was actually there and is reporting on a n event.

Some sources are interviews, the diary or personal papers of someone, the lab journal of a scientist, among others.

b. Secondary. This is the written information that, from a distance in time, has looked at primary sources and has analysed, criticised, or otherwise worked it through a critical process.

Some sources are encyclopaedias, magazines, newspapers, textbooks, videotapes, recordings, etc.

4. Estimate the quantity of information needed.

The amount of information that you will need is often based in the length of the assignment. If it would be a paper, it is evident that you need less research for a ten-page paper than for a 300-page paper. However, quantity is often determined by the availability of sources, which is