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[MrRoboto75]

I need to choose a research topic for my economic history class.  My options include effectively literally anything before 1960, but also needs to be anally specific.  "You should test or attempt to study a specific hypothesis using historical data" is my only other guideline.

I don't even know where to start.

[Amperzand]

Grab a topic. I can give suggestions if you like.

[Orange Wizard]

I need to choose a research topic for my economic history class.  My options include effectively literally anything before 1960, but also needs to be anally specific.  "You should test or attempt to study a specific hypothesis using historical data" is my only other guideline.

I don't even know where to start.

How about the impact of boats seized from Germany in Versailles on the English shipbuilding industry

[Frumple]

Perhaps something about cod. Hypothesize that the impact of WWI on the codfishing industry was negative, and then compare existent data to see whether that is an accurate presumption.

If you do choose that topic, be sure to subtly overuse the word "piece" while you're writing, as a stealth joke.

E: There's even at least one book you could cite for data on historical trends, which seems to include the time period in question. Maybe not buy it, but it might be available in your library system or available somewhere else, cheaper.

[Helgoland]

The impact of wartime timber needs on truffel farming and prices.

[Flying Dice]

The role of reliance on imported industrial materials on Japan's entry into WWII.

[Baffler]

Analyze the history of industrialization in Austria-Hungary vs. their neighbors.

[Helgoland]

Yeah, do that one - that one's interesting! You could in particular do a compare&contrast with Germany and Russia.

[MrRoboto75]

The big problem is, every time I search for scholarly articles, either:

I find nothing

I find something, but its too general or barely related

I find something, but the database only has the abstract, or not even that

I find something, but its not my university's database, so I have to pay to look at it

[Flying Dice]

Oh, yeah, shoot for that. Comparative analysis is almost always incredibly easy, since you have to make fewer original inferences from data and can rely much more heavily on pointing out similarities/differences and trying to identify causes. That's your undergrad bread and butter.

Also if you want help with research, PM me what you're looking for and I'll help you out both with finding articles and search methods, I've still got uni access to plenty of relevant databases.

[hops]

It's beautiful, isn't it?

The next step, of course, is to build a Dwarf Fortress computer that runs Minecraft.

How about a Minecraft computer that runs Dwarf Fortress that runs a computer that runs Minecraft?

[MrRoboto75]

I think I'll just fail the class.  The library's website isn't useful, and google scholar either gives irrelevant bunk or stuff that costs too much (usually both).  I've approached the professor twice about any direction on the paper at all, but he is being intentionally useless, giving no advice but going to the database and GS.  And if I can't pull a 15 page paper out of my ass, there's no point in doing anything else for the class, much less showing up.

And I have a paper for African Development, with instructions that are equally vague.

[IronTomato]

I'm staying in Boston for the night, making it my first actual time in a big city.

Why the fuck are there so many people? Where do they all live when there are no houses? Are these things connected? Why the fuck are there so many escalators? Why the fuck is everyone in such a hurry? Why is every building so huge? What goes in the top floors? Why do people honk their horns even if nothing is wrong? Why does everyone drive like an asshole? Why do people even have cars when it's cheaper and easier and faster to use the T? Are these things connected? Why is so much shit made of bricks? Why is everything under construction in some way? Are these things connected?

[chaotic skies]

Questions people in big cities are too busy to be asking themselves

[Flying Dice]

I think I'll just fail the class.  The library's website isn't useful, and google scholar either gives irrelevant bunk or stuff that costs too much (usually both).  I've approached the professor twice about any direction on the paper at all, but he is being intentionally useless, giving no advice but going to the database and GS.  And if I can't pull a 15 page paper out of my ass, there's no point in doing anything else for the class, much less showing up.

And I have a paper for African Development, with instructions that are equally vague.

*shrug*

That's how higher education is. You're expected to be able to develop your own ideas to investigate and evaluate. If you're not willing to try to learn how to use the resources that are in place (for one, if the university library doesn't have ways set up for you to get in touch with one of their staff to ask questions, or a student writing center, I'll eat my hat) and don't want to have to develop your own research topics, it's not really a good fit for you, unless you're in a major that doesn't require critical thinking skills or creativity.

And as I said, if you want some help learning to use research databases (and I mean real ones, not Google Scholar), PM me. Well-defined search parameters make a world of difference, and you're going to find a lot more full-text sources going through your uni's access portal (since they pay for students and faculty to get access to a bunch of pay-gated resources).