An overview of your broad topic area helps you understand...
Read a reference article on the topic of restorative justice to build your basic understanding of:
The image below is from the beginning of the article "Does Restorative Justice Really Work?"
(click on image to enlarge)
Use two strategies in reference databases:
1. Do a general search in Gale eBooks and look over the results for subtopics you could focus in on.
2. Read through background articles and look for a subtopic to focus in on.
You can just search for articles using the keyword phrase "restorative justice."
If you know a little about a topic before you search, however, you will be able to focus in on areas that interest you.
In the excerpt below, which is from the opening to an article on restorative justice, I highlight words that capture different dimensions of the topic, from what restorative is, who it addresses, where it is practiced, what its goals are, synonyms to restorative justice, and ways in which it is enacted.
The article provides different aspects of the topic, and suggests ways I could focus my topic. I could, for instance research:
(click on image to enlarge)