Adopted from OSU Libraries How to Narrow a Research Topic
Dec 13, 2015
Adopted from OSU Libraries
How to Narrow a Research Topic
Ask yourself these questions:
How
to Narrow
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?H
ow to N
arrow a Research Topic
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Populations
Age
Gender
Race or Ethnicity
NEW TOPIC:
Immigration reform for Latinos.
What?H
ow to N
arrow 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?H
ow to N
arrow a Research Topic
Timeframes
Current or historical view
Period of life
NEW TOPIC:
Illegal immigration’s effect on young males.
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Where?H
ow to N
arrow a Research Topic
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Places
States
Regions
Countries
NEW TOPIC:
Illegal immigration in Arizona.
Why?H
ow to N
arrow a Research Topic
Evaluate
Causes
Treatments
Outcomes
NEW TOPIC:
Potential solutions for dealing with illegal immigration.
TOPIC: Immigration reform
Mix n’ MatchH
ow to N
arrow 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 topic
Use the following resources for an overview of your topic:
1. Encyclopedias – Give a brief summary
1. Print – Found on the Reference Shelves
2. Online - Gale Virtual Reference Library
2. Opposing Viewpoints – (Reference Articles)
3. CQ Researcher (Print and Online) 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