The Research Question
Once you have the topic you would like to research, the next step is forming your research question. Your research question should be focused and specific. The result should also be a question for which there are two or more possible answers. See the diagrams below for three examples of narrowing a topic.
Assigning Limits to Your Topic
A topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or narrow. One way to narrow a broad topic is to assign limits to what you will cover. Some common ways to limit a topic are listed below using the broad topic, "the environment" as an example.
| Limiter | Example |
| Geographical area | What environmental issues are most important in the Southwestern United States |
| Culture | How does the environment fit into the Navajo world view? |
| Time frame | What are the most prominent environmental issues of the last 10 years? |
| Discipline | How does environmental awareness effect business practices today? |
| Population group | What are the effects of air pollution on senior citizens? |
Remember that a topic may be too difficult to research if it is too:
Example: What sources of pollution affect the Newport News water supply?
Example: How can the environment contribute to the culture, politics and society of the Western states?
*Credit: Golden Gate University