Asking a Research
Question
Using a Research
Question to Narrow Your Topic
- A good way
to further focus your topic and your library research is to phrase it as
a question.
Ask yourself "What do I want to know
about this topic?"
-
-
Suppose you want to do a paper on capital punishment. If you try to gather
information on
the general topic of capital punishment, you will find much
more information than you could use
in a short paper. -
- If you turn it into a
question, you are forced to narrow and focus the topic.
What
makes a good research question?
It can't be answered simply by "Yes!" or "No!"
It can be
answered by research using source materials.
Questions you could ask about capital punishment:
Is capital punishment a deterrent to murder?
How effective is the death penalty economically?
What are the psychological effects on the families of those executed?
Is capital punishment an ethical issue?
Is the
death penalty biased against minorities?
How does the death penalty apply to women?
More
Examples of Possible Research Questions
Topic:
Homelessness and mental illness
Possible
Research Questions:
1. What is the relationship between mental illness and homelessness?
2. How can the mentally ill be protected from homelessness?
Topic:
Legalization of marijuana
Possible
Research Questions:
1. What
are the therapeutic uses of marijuana?
2. Would legalizing marijuana reduce crime?
NEXT: Try Some Practice
Research Questions