1. Pick a topic that interests you. Review your course readings & notes and use CSUN library databases & course canvas recommended news sources to brainstorm ideas.
2. Think about the scope of your topic. If it is too narrow, you might have trouble finding enough information. If it is too broad, you might be overwhelmed with search results. If you are using CSUN's OneSearch make sure to use search filters (date, format, scholarly/peer review) to limit the number of search results you retrieve.
3. Reread your assignment/research prompt when establishing the scope of your search and topic. Also always remember to review your assignment requirements and make certain that you will be able to obtain enough information to fulfill the required number and format type of sources (articles/books etc).
4. Develop your selected topic(s) into a workable research question. Remember that your research question may change depending on what resources you are able to retrieve from library databases and online and print resources.
Sample questions to help you refine your research question:
Before you search, consider the fundamental requirements of the information you seek:
What is your topic? Are there multiple terms to describe it? Use 
to search a specific topic, OR look for your topic (or similar terms) under the 'Topic' filter in the "Refine my results" toolbar of One Search.
What kinds of sources are required? Check your assignment prompt and set up Advanced Search to display specific formats of information such as books, journal articles, videos, etc. You can also apply the filters from the "Refine my results" toolbar.
Must your sources be peer-reviewed? Look for the term "peer-reviewed" in your results list, OR filter your results to display only articles from peer-reviewed journals.
How recent must your sources be? Three to seven years is a general window for recent sources. Sciences will be shorter. Use the left toolbar to limit the years for which your source must be published.
