Use this handout to think about and keep track of the key ideas in your news story and the key concepts of your sociological theory. This will help you develop search words to find related journal articles, and keep track of what you find as you search.
Picking a topic for your project is often the hardest part of the research process. Watch these two videos about the cyclical nature of selecting a researchable topic, and why you may have trouble finding a "perfect source".
The health issue from your news story is NOT what you will search for in journal databases. Ask yourself: what is the root cause of that health issue? This is what you will use search for journal articles. It will also help you decide which sociological theory best connects with your topic.
For example:
I've chosen a 2019 news article about the health issue of food scarcity: 'Troubling' new numbers show food bank use on the rise in Toronto, Mississauga
What do we know is a root cause of food scarcity? Unequal access to resources/social inequality.
What sociological theory explores the role of social inequality in creating food scarcity? Weberianism (among others, it's up to you to determine which theory is a good fit for your topic).
I can now search for sociological articles that look at social inequality and can help explain the role it plays in food insecurity. I am NOT searching for Weberianism! Rather, I am searching for articles that explore Weberian ideas and concepts.
Some example articles:
None of these articles are specifically connected to my news article, but they can help us understand how and why social inequality is a root cause of the health issue food scarcity.