Information Literacy

Defining (and Refining) Your Research Question

When working on a research project, it is important to have a well-defined research question. This helps make the research process more targetted, and it makes your final project more specific.

Steps:

1. Decide on a topic
2. Narrow the topic
3. Brainstorm questions related to the topic
4. Choose one question
5. Make the question more specific and focused

Good research questions should:

• ...adhere to the assignment's criteria and requirements!
• ...concentrate on one issue.
  • Trying to address too many issues at once makes it difficult to produce a coherent and organized piece of writing.
• ...be specific and focused.
  • You need to answer the question effectively within the space you have to write about it; if the assignment is to write a short paper, the question needs to be more specific.
• ...require analysis and deep thought.
  • A simple 'yes' or 'no' is not sufficient to answer them.
  • 'How' or 'why' questions are typically better.
• ...be clear.
  • Define and/or make specific any vague terms.

Resources