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Getting Started with Research @ Reed Library: Choosing a Topic & Developing a Research Question

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The Research Process

Choosing a Research Topic

The first step in research is selecting a topic that interests you. This makes the process (and paper writing) more enjoyable and engaging. When choosing a topic, consider the following:

  • Interest: Choose a topic that genuinely excites you.
  • Timeliness: Ensure there's sufficient research available to support your topic.
  • Research Base: Verify that researchers have studied the topic to provide a solid foundation for your research.

Ask yourself:

  • Is it interesting to me?
  • Am I choosing it because it's easy or popular?
  • Does it fit the assignment's requirements?
  • Do I have enough time to research it fully?
  • Can I find reliable information on this topic?

Remember, research is not a linear process; as you go through these steps, you may modify or refine your topic many times. 

Brainstorming:

  • List all potential topics related to your class or assignment for five minutes. 
  • Select your favorite topic. Keep the list handy in case you need to explore other options.
  • Think about what you know and how you know it. The key here to examine whether your source is reliable.
  • Then think about what you don't know about this topic and what you'd like to find out. This will guide your research question. 

Use this table to guide you while brainstorming topics:

Topic: 
What do you know about this topic? How do you know? Is this a reliable source?

 

 
What do you want to know about this topic? Where will you find this information?

 

 

Wikipedia, ChatGPT, and Encylopedia-esque tools are okay sources for preliminary research. You can use these for a broad overview and inspiration. Remember, though, that these need to be fact-checked and are not always reliable. Professors will not accept these as sources; they are only a starting point. For reliable alternatives to Wikipedia, check out the links below. 

For additional topic inspiration, check out:

To develop a strong research question, ask yourself: What do I want to learn about this topic? Then, consider these key elements:

  • WHO/WHAT are you researching?
  • WHEN/WHERE does your research take place?
  • WHY are you researching this topic?

Try these steps to formulate a research question:

  1. Start with your topic
  2. Refine/focus your topic (Ask: who, what, when, where, why?)
  3. Formulate a question (or two or three) about your topic
  4. Narrow your question further if possible

Use the example below to guide you

  • WHO/WHAT are you researching? Teenage Mental Health and Social Media
  • WHEN/WHERE does your research take place? United States, within ten years
  • WHY are you researching this topic? It interests me and affects my life!
Topic Social Media and Mental Health
Focus Topic Social media affects the mental health of teenagers
Question 1 How does social media affect the health of teens?
Question 2 How has the mental health of teens in the US changed because of social media?
Narrow Question How has social media impacted the mental health of teens in the US over the past decade?

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