General Education
General Education Research Guide
Vector Technology Institute Library • Updated February 2026
This guide helps VTI students succeed in General Education research and writing tasks—finding credible sources, refining topics, using APA 7th edition, and building strong arguments. Use it for essays, reflections, presentations, reports, and discussion-based assignments.
Start Here
- Pick a topic you can explain in 1 sentence.
- Find 5 credible sources quickly.
- Write a focused research question.
- Keep a research log as you search.
Common General Education Research Topics
General Education assignments often connect learning to real-world issues. Choose topics that allow you to use evidence, examples, and clear reasoning.
Communication & Writing
- Digital communication and misinformation
- Workplace communication and professionalism
- Social media’s impact on learning and attention
- Presentation skills and audience analysis
Society, Culture & Ethics
- Technology ethics and AI in society
- Privacy, surveillance, and digital rights
- Community development and education
- Equity and access to technology
Science, Health & Environment
- Public health communication
- Climate resilience and sustainability
- Clean energy and innovation
- Data-driven decision-making in communities
Math & Quantitative Reasoning
- Interpreting charts, graphs, and statistics
- Bias in data and sampling
- Everyday numeracy: finance, budgeting, risk
- Using evidence to support a claim
Build a Strong Research Question
A good research question is specific, researchable, and important. Use this formula:
How does [factor] affect [outcome] in [group/place] over [time]?
Examples:
- How does social media misinformation affect student decision-making in higher education?
- How does AI-assisted writing impact learning outcomes in first-year writing courses?
- How do privacy concerns influence technology adoption among young adults?
Find Credible Sources
Use trusted open access tools to locate journal articles, reports, and scholarly publications. Start with these:
Technology-focused open access:
- IEEE Access (engineering and technology research)
- JOSS – Journal of Open Source Software (software and computing research)
Open textbooks and course readings:
Search Smarter: Keywords + Filters
Build keyword groups and search in combinations:
Example keyword sets
Topic: AI in education
- AI terms: “generative AI” OR “ChatGPT” OR “large language model”
- Education terms: “student learning” OR “assessment” OR “academic integrity”
- Setting terms: “technical institute” OR “higher education” OR “college students”
Filters to use: year (last 5–7 years), peer-reviewed where available, “PDF” or “open access/full text,” and subject categories.
Evaluate Sources Quickly (5-Point Check)
- Authority: Who wrote it? What organization/journal published it?
- Evidence: Does it cite sources and explain methods?
- Relevance: Does it directly support your question?
- Currency: Is it recent enough for your topic?
- Purpose: Research/information vs marketing/opinion?
Tip: If a source has no author, no date, and no references, it usually does not belong in academic writing.
Use APA 7th Edition Correctly
Most VTI General Education assignments use APA 7th edition. Follow these basics:
- Use in-text citations when paraphrasing or quoting (Author, Year).
- Create a References list with full details.
- When in doubt, cite it—especially facts, statistics, or specialized ideas.
Free citation support tools:
Academic Integrity & AI Use
AI tools may help with brainstorming or editing, but students remain responsible for originality, accuracy, and proper citation. If you use AI, verify facts, confirm sources, and follow your instructor’s expectations for disclosure.
Reminder: AI tools can invent references. Always verify citations by checking the original article or publisher page.
Recommended Workflow (Fast)
- 1) Define your topic in 1 sentence
- 2) Search Google Scholar for 5 strong sources
- 3) Expand using DOAJ + BASE
- 4) Organize sources in Zotero
- 5) Outline → Draft → Cite → Revise
Get Help
If you’re stuck, the VTI Library can help you refine your topic, develop keywords, locate scholarly sources, and format citations.
Vector Technology Institute Library • General Education Research Guide • February 2026