1. Describe your research topic. Think of a statement or a question that describes your topic or issue. What is the scope of your topic?

• time span
• place
• subject area or subtopic
• specific group
• specific event
• specific individuals

2. Critically think about your issue and ask questions.

• Who is affected?
• What are the implications? What are the treatment options?
• When did onset occur? Is there a timeline? Under what conditions?
• Where is the problem localized or is it widespread?
• How did this come to be?  How can it be treated? Why?

3. When beginning your research, ask yourself:

• What do you already know about your topic or issue?
• What do you need to know in order to better understand your topic or issue?
• How you would find the information needed to resolve your issue?

4. Promoting Health Literacy and awareness isn't easy. Consider your audience.

• Is your language clear?
• Why would it be of interest?
• What will be new?

Too much information? Narrow your topic.

• Narrow one of your PICO facets.
• Choose one certain aspect or focus within your topic. You could think of causes and effects, treatments or therapies, etc.

Too little information? Broaden your topic.

• Make your search terms less specific. For example, broaden your population from infants to include infants and children, or your intervention from amoxicillin to any penicillin-like antibiotic.
• Check a thesaurus to find other terms, or go back to your mind map and list of synonyms you created while developing your question.