Research Guides: HSC 147 Human Growth and Development: Selecting a Topic and Background Information

Helpful Sources to Select a Topic

Before you begin to search for information, identify a research topic about human growth and development.

Here are a few sources to help you select a topic:

Healthy People 2030
What is the Healthy People 2030 framework?

The framework explains the central ideas and function of the Healthy People 2030 initiative. The purpose of the framework is to:

Provide context and rationale for the initiative’s approach
Communicate the principles that underlie decisions about Healthy People 2030
Situate the initiative in the 5-decade history of Healthy People
Health Topics: MedlinePlus
Read about symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention for over 1000 diseases, illnesses, health conditions and wellness issues. MedlinePlus health topics are regularly reviewed, and links are updated daily.

PICO Search Strategy Form

PICO Search Strategy Form to help you with defining your topic and select terms:

PICO Form

Finding Background Information

To get a good understand about your research topic or subject, you may want to start by finding a subject encyclopedia article from The Gale Virtual Reference Library. This database is a collection of over 150 subject specific encyclopedias. Searching here first will help you with:

Understanding your topic
Identifying key words for searching
Help you narrow (focus) your research

There are many health and medicine subject encyclopedias to consult.

Gale E-books This link opens in a new window
Formerly Gale Virtual Reference Center. Find articles in encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. A great place to search for background information on any topic.

Subject Headings

Finding and using the best subject headings for your topic is key to finding the best information. Here are some hints:

From your chosen topic, identify key terms
Find one great article and see how the database indexed the article by subject headings
Brainstorm synonyms for your key terms
Get help from your instructor or a librarian