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 ID: 494990
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Slide1
Adopted from OSU Libraries
How to Narrow a Research TopicSlide2
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? Slide3
Topic:
Immigration reform
Example broad topic:
Immigration reform
This topic is too broad and needs to be narrowed down to something more specific. Slide4
Use AND, OR, NOT
Use AND to narrow down a topic. Use OR to broaden a topic.
Use NOT to eliminate a information not wanted. Slide5
Who?
How to Narrow a Research Topic
TOPIC:
Immigration reform
Populations
Age
Gender
Race or Ethnicity
NEW TOPIC:
Immigration reform for Latinos. Slide6
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?Slide7
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 reformSlide8
Where?
How to Narrow a Research Topic
TOPIC:
Immigration reform
Places
States
Regions
Countries
NEW TOPIC:
Illegal immigration in Arizona. Slide9
Why?
How to Narrow a Research Topic
Evaluate
Causes
Treatments
Outcomes
NEW TOPIC:
Potential solutions for dealing with illegal immigration.
TOPIC:
Immigration reformSlide10
Mix n’ Match
How 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.Slide11
Narrow your topic
Use the following resources for an overview of your topic:
Encyclopedias – Give a brief summary
Print –
Found on the Reference Shelves
Online -
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Opposing Viewpoints – (Reference Articles)
Issues & Controversies
SIRS Issue ResearcherSlide12
Gun Control
In California
New Laws
Crime
Would there be less crime in California if new laws controlling guns were passed?Slide13
Obesity
Youth
Junk Food
Schools
Could the obesity epidemic plaguing our youth be solved by eliminating junk food from schools ?Slide14
Construct a keyword search
Research 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