For many, if not most, research assignments, you need to do more than understand a topic. You need to have some central idea about it, a thesis that is supported by evidence. One way to do this is to reformulate your topic as a question. Chances are your question will change as your understanding of the topic deepens, but it should help guide your search to have a specific research question in mind.
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Don't expect to find the "perfect" article the first time you sit down to search. This is especially true if your topic is really broad: "I want to do something with interfaith understanding and the workplace," for example. Articles tend to be more specific, so as you search, start paying attention to the scope of articles. Is a workplace article focused on two specific religions? A specific type of workplace? Specific issues that arise regarding accommodations or sacred spaces? Pay attention to these details - you want to get a sense of the following question: "What are people talking about when they talk about my topic?"
Think about search terms - and using more than one word or phrase. Even "interfaith" can also be described as interreligious, multifaith, multireligious, etc. Pay attention to the terms that experts in the field use to identify your topic. Different search terms will bring up different results, so be sure you're using a variety of search terms. Consult the Search Tips tab (top of page) for more ideas on how to search.
Be sure to find articles that you understand. This might be a little obvious, but it bears repeating. You might find an article that describes your topic but is written for people who are already scholars or experts. It might be too dense or complicated to understand. There's nothing wrong with dismissing a source because it is too technical. If you find one that's easier to understand, your research and presentation will be much better.
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