Gen 103 Information Literacy Writing Your Research Question
Gen 103 Information Literacywriting Your Research Question Worksheet
Now that you’ve chosen your research topic, done a bit of background research and brainstormed your ideas, you’re ready to write your research question. Your research question will direct the research that you do over next few weeks as you look for sources for your annotated bibliography. Refer to Section 1.3 of your textbook to review the elements and purpose of a research question. You will begin developing your research question by filling in the table below.
The table below illustrates how a research question develops from a broad topic to a focused question, with four examples showing the progression from broad topic to specific research question.
Example of Research Question Development:
| BROAD TOPIC | RESTRICTED TOPIC | NARROWED TOPIC | RESEARCH QUESTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Acid Rain | Acid Rain in the United States | What can we do in the United States to prevent acid rain? |
| Pollution | Oil Spills | Oil spills and commerce | What impact do oil spills have on the fishing and tourism businesses in areas affected? |
| Pollution | Pesticides | Pesticides and the bee population | What evidence is there that pesticides are significantly harming the bee population? |
| Pollution | Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) | Fracking and groundwater | What evidence is there that fracking can cause groundwater contamination? |
Develop Your Research Question: Now, try applying this process to your own ideas. Use the table below to enter your topic ideas, working from broad to narrow, and develop potential research questions. Ensure that your chosen question is open-ended (cannot be answered with simple yes or no), addresses an issue or controversy and/or aims to solve a problem, and is suitable for taking a stand.
Research Question Development Table:
| BROAD TOPIC | RESTRICTED TOPIC | NARROWED TOPIC | RESEARCH QUESTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Your broad topic] | [Your restricted topic] | [Your narrowed topic] | [Your research question] |
Choose the research question you plan to use: Select from your generated options the question that best meets these criteria:
- It is open-ended (cannot be answered with simple yes or no).
- It addresses an issue, controversy, or solves a problem.
- It is a question on which you can take a stand.
Reflection
In the space below, explain what you learned about this process as you conducted background research and refined your topic. Discuss what was most difficult and why, as well as what part of the process was most helpful and why. Consider how the process of brainstorming, analysis, and question screening affected your understanding and approach.
Once completed, save your worksheet and submit it through the designated assignment submission button.
Glossary:
- Annotated bibliography: A list of citations with descriptions and summaries or critical statements about each source.
- Research question: The starting point for your research, containing key terms or ideas relevant to your topic.