How to Narrow a Research Topic
14
Adopted from OSU Libraries How to Narrow a Research Topic
description
How to Narrow a Research Topic. Adopted from OSU Libraries. Ask yourself these questions:. When your research topic is too broad , ask these questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? . Topic: Immigration reform. Example broad topic: Immigration reform - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of How to Narrow a Research Topic
Adopted from OSU Libraries
How to Narrow a Research Topic
Ask yourself these questions:
How to N
arrow a Research Topic
When your research topic is too broad, ask these questions:
• Who?• What?• When?• Where?• Why?
Topic: Immigration reform
• Example broad topic: Immigration reform
• This topic is too broad and needs to be narrowed down to something more specific.
Use AND, OR, NOTUse AND to narrow down a topic. Use OR to broaden a topic.
Use NOT to eliminate a information not wanted.
Who?How
to Narrow
a Research Topic
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Populations
Age
Gender
Race or Ethnicity
NEW TOPIC:Immigration reform for Latinos.
What?How
to Narrow
a Research Topic
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Types
Build a Fence
Tough Laws
Amnesty
NEW TOPIC:How will building a border fence effect illegal immigration?
When?How
to Narrow
a Research Topic
Timeframes
Current or historical view
Period of life
NEW TOPIC:Illegal immigration’s effect on young males.
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Where?How
to Narrow
a Research Topic
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Places
States
Regions
Countries
NEW TOPIC:Illegal immigration in Arizona.
Why?How
to Narrow
a Research Topic
Evaluate
Causes
Treatments
Outcomes
NEW TOPIC:Potential solutions for dealing with illegal immigration.
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Mix n’ MatchHow
to Narrow
a Research Topic
Combine any number of elements that you derive from asking these questions until you find an interesting topic to research.
Some examples:
• Causes and treatment of anorexia in college athletes.
• Prevalence of bulimia in teen-age males in the United States.
• Changes in treatment for compulsive overeaters, 1950-present.
Narrow your topicUse the following resources for an
overview of your topic:1. Encyclopedias – Give a brief
summary1. Print – Found on the Reference
Shelves2. Online - Gale Virtual Reference
Library2. Opposing Viewpoints – (Reference
Articles)3. Issues & Controversies 4. SIRS Issue Researcher
Gun Control
In California
New Laws
Crime
Would there be less crime in California if new laws controlling guns were passed?
Obesity
Youth
Junk Food
Schools
Could the obesity epidemic plaguing our youth be solved by eliminating junk food from schools ?
Construct a keyword searchResearch question:Could the obesity epidemic plaguing our youth be solved by eliminating junk
food from schools ?
“junk food”
And (obesity or obese)
And School*
Sample Search
