Create your research question.
- After conducting background research, determine what aspect of your topic to investigate.
- Consider the issues, mystery, debate, problem, or controversies.
- What interests you? What needs to be solved?
- Create a concept map or a list of ideas.
- Use the six Ws (& How), if needed, to help create a question:
- Who
- What
- Why
- When
- Where
- Which
- How
- Be sure it is neither too broad nor too narrow.
- You will eventually develop sub-questions that support your primary question.
- You may find your primary research question changes after doing research. That's okay!
Select and brainstorm your keywords.
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State your research question/topic
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EXAMPLE: "How do cigarette companies target children with their advertising?"
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Identify main concepts:
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EXAMPLE: "How do cigarette companies target children with their advertising?"
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Brainstorm synonyms, related terms, broader terms, scientific/technical terms, and more specific terms based on your own background knowledge:
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EXAMPLE:
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Cigarette companies: Philip Morris, Camel, Imperial
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Children: child, adolescent, teen, teenager, students, youth
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Advertising: ads, marketing, commercials, promotions, product placement
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Avoid the following:
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Abbreviations - spell them out
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Relationship words - words like compare, contrast, causation, etc.
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Judgement words - words like best, worst, pro, con, etc.
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If needed, search Wikipedia and other reference sources to further develop your list of keywords.
Select source types that are most appropriate for the information need.
For Example:
| Information Need | Source Types |
|---|---|
| Current information on political issues | Current Newspapers & Magazines |
| Background info in order to develop a question for a research project | Reference, Wikipedia, Topic Overview Videos (Crash Course) |
| Current research on solar and wind power | Academic Journals/Original Research & Government Websites/Docs |
| Information to help make an argument about the impact of U.S. westward expansion on indigenous people | Primary Sources from the time, Academic Journal Articles by historians, & Books on the topic |