Help Choosing a Topic - AGE 404 - Psychology of Aging - LibGuides at Wichita State University

Getting Started

Selecting a Topic

Deciding on a topic can be one of the toughest parts of writing a paper. The resources on this page can help start the brainstorming process. You can also look for background information in the books or article databases mentioned below.

Ask Yourself ....

Ask yourself the following questions about your topic to make sure you've picked a topic that will keep both yourself and your audience (those reading your paper) engaged. If you can answer yes to all the questions, you're ready to start gathering sources. Source

Am I interested in the topic?
Will I enjoy researching this topic?
Will I enjoy talking about this topic and sharing my information with my readers?
Will my readers be interested in my topic?
Am I passionate about this topic?

Reference Databases

These Reference databases can help if you need to find some facts or background information on your topic.

Gale E-Books This link opens in a new window
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Collection of ebook reference works in all disciplines including multivolume encyclopedias, biographical directories, business plan handbooks, consumer health references, dictionaries, etc.
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Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
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Over 400 reference titles from over 70 publishers covering every major subject. Seamless searching of Credo Reference sources, the WSU Libraries Catalog, and other Libraries subscribed databases.
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Video tour of Credo Reference
Oxford Reference Online: Premium This link opens in a new window
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Full-text to dictionaries, reference books, and encyclopedias published by Oxford University Press in a broad range of subjects: general reference, language, science and medicine, humanities and social sciences, and Business. 4 simultaneous users.

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedia of Aging
ISBN: 9780028654720
Publication Date: 2002-07-03
This four-volume academic set covers the subject of aging from a social, cultural, sociological, biological, medical, anthropological, religious/philosophical, and economic point of view. Special attention has been paid to cross-national differences in policies and approaches related to aging. For example, the inclusion of an article on euthanasia, listing the various approaches to this practice in different countries.
Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health by Sana Loue (Editor); Martha Sajatovic (Editor)
ISBN: 9780387337548
Publication Date: 2007-11-29
Click on title to access ebook.
People are living longer, and the elder population is growing larger. To meet the ongoing need for quality information on elder health, this book combines multiple perspectives to offer readers a more accurate and complete picture of the aging process. The book takes a biopsychosocial approach to the complexities of its subject, and all chapters and entries include references and resource lists. The book includes entries on not-quite-elders’ concerns (e.g., midlife crisis, menopause). The Encyclopedia has been developed for maximum utility to clinicians, social workers, researchers, and public health professionals working with older adults.
Encyclopedia of Gerontology by James E. Birren (Editor-In-Chief)
Call Number: RC952.5 .E58 2007
ISBN: 9780123705303
Publication Date: 2006-11-30
Since the first edition, the research literature on aging continues to expand rapidly, reflecting both the rising interest of the scientific community and also the needs of a growing older population. In the year 1900, persons over 65 years of age were the smallest portion of developed societies. Today they are emerging as the largest. Aging is a complex process of change involving influences of a biological, behavioral, social, and environmental nature, all of which are explored in the context of this encyclopedia. Spans biology, psychology, social science, health science, and humanities. Every article contains a definition paragraph and a glossary of unfamiliar terms.