More than likely Google will be your initial starting point for topic ideas and information. This is ok! Informal channels or information, such as blogs or podcasts, are invaluable resources that can keep you up to date and informed in your research areas. These resources will also assist you in finding resources to begin your research.
Start by searching for keywords related to your area of interest to begin your research. A quick, very broad scan of topics and information can help you gather points of interest. Use keywords that are focused on trending news, recent research, controversial issues, policy debates, or other relevant terms. The internet is full of information, some good and some bad, so be careful in evaluating the information you find.
In today’s time, anyone can publish webpages. Most websites have not undergone a review process for inclusion in a collection. You should closely evaluate any internet resources you find to ensure they contain unbiased, factual information. Reliable internet resources may include peer-reviewed journal articles, government reports, associations and organizations, government papers, conference papers, industry and professional standards, scientific papers, news reports, and quick facts and figures.
The criteria that you need to determine to wither you have a reliable source:
Blogs can be a valuable source for information on trending issues, current events, recent research, debates and more. Scholars, associations, executives, innovative researchers, everyday practitioners, and students are just some of the people who write blogs. Knowing about and reading blogs that are written by experts in the field, or relevant associations may be an important step in identifying current studies and trends in a subject area.
There is a neat website called:ResearchBlogging.org that aggregates blog posts regarding recent peer-reviewed research and publications.
Many online popular and news magazines have blog sections. For example, Psychology Today offers a large index of their blogs with a guide to their blogging experts’ credentials
Some of the top Psychology Blogs are listed below
Pulled from Best Colleges Website
Research news websites are also good sources for the latest information in research. This is a great way to keep up with current research, learn about potentially interesting topics, and understand where the research in a particular field is heading.
Podcasts can help direct you to interesting subjects:
Psych Crunch
Where to listen: https://digest.bps.org.uk/podcast/ or iTunes
While research studies and psychologies most recent findings are always intriguing, it’s not always clear what the practical applications are for those conclusions. But Dr. Christian Jarrett from the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest wants to help change that by presenting you with the newest data in digestible, 10-minute episodes.
Hidden Brain
Where to listen: http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510308/hidden-brain, iTunes, or the NPR One App
Shankar Vendanta will captivate you with ideas about the underlying patterns, bias’, and triggers that shape who we think we are, who we actually are, and who we are becoming. This podcast explores the things we don’t see that shape everything we do see and challenges you to think harder about the choices you make and what’s really driving them.
The Mental Illness Happy Hour
Where to listen: http://mentalpod.com/ or iTunes
With input from comedians, artists, friends and (some) doctors, Paul Gilmartin is on a mission to normalize what has for too long been stigmatized. He and his guests talk openly and honestly about the things that don’t get talked about in public, the struggles and pains and trauma of their own lives in order to bring to light the truth that the world is much more than black and white stories.
Popular news sources and magazines can also be useful for finding out about the latest trends or research.