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| Formulate questions that narrow your topic, reducing what might be your original grand question, to manageable portions. Eventually, your topic should be refined based on a review of the literature in your discipline.
Your research question should be narrow, specific, and answerable. Note that a hypothesis is a tentative answer to a research question - an expected but as of yet unconfirmed relationship between two or more variables. You may find it helpful to express or ask your question as a relation between two or more variables. Singleton, R. A. and Straits, B. C. (2005). Approaches to social research. New York: Oxford University Pres |
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Narrow |
Broaden |
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If you find that your topic is too broad for the confines of your assignment consider these questions: What?: Are there different aspects or sides to the topic? Are there multiple viewpoints? Why is it an important question? Who?: Which groups are affected by the topic area in question? Who is involved in the discussion? Is culture an aspect? When?: Is this topic a contemporary concern, a question that affects people today? Is it a topic that can be explored across time period? Is it a historical concern? Where?: Is the topic confined to a specific geographic location? Does it affect one area more than another, or is it universal? |
If you find that your topic is too narrow for the confines of your assignment consider these questions: Currency: Is your topic too current? Can you expand or shift the time period? Related Issues: Are there related issues that would improve your argument? Do the variables or concepts you are considering impact other people, places or attitudes? Generalize: If you are looking at a particular group, individual or place, can you bring others into your research? Can you expand your area? Are there similar groups you can include? |
For background sources, refer to the subject guide for your discipline:
