The document discusses developing a clear and focused research question as the first step of the research process, providing examples of broad research topics and suggesting ways to refine topics into questions. It also outlines brainstorming potential research questions, determining needed information to answer the question, and introducing the question in the thesis statement.

1. Developing a
Research Question

2. One of the first steps in the
research process is developing
a research question. The
research question should be a
clear and focused question that
you can answer with information
gathered during the research
process.
Starting with a well thought-out
research question will help to
speed up the research process:
searching for information without
a clear objective is a good way Paris Exposition: map, Paris, France, 1900. Map showing
to come up with ideas, but a layout of the exhibition. Brooklyn Museum Archives
difficult way to build an
argument. A research question
gives you a framework to work
with.

3. Many assignments start with a research topic. This is usually a very broad idea.
Research topics might look like the following:
• Women’s Health • Bullying in schools
• Arts in New York City • Video Games
• Pollution and the environment
In some cases, you may be asked
to choose a topic that interests
you. This can be a challenge.
Research can be a lot of fun,
especially when you’re
discovering more about a topic
you’re interested in. When you
are thinking about your research
question, try to think about
things you’re interested in.
Katharine Burr Blodgett at General Electric Research
Laboratories. Smithsonian Institution Archives

4. Brainstorming can be
a meaningful part of
the research process.
If you don’t know a
lot about your
research topic, you
can become more
knowledgeable about
it using reference
resources, like
encyclopedias, or by
searching for
information online. Susan H. Douglas Political Americana Collection, #2214 Rare & Manuscript Collections,
Cornell University Library, Cornell University http://hdl.handle.net/1813.001/5zkx

5. Once you’ve learned more about your topic, it will be easier to begin
thinking about your research question. Examples of possible research
questions based on the previous topics might look like:
• Women’s Health What are the effects of nutrition
counseling on women’s health in rural communities?
• Art in New York City How is the Jewish immigrant
experience in New York City reflected in comic books from the
golden age of comics?
• Pollution and the environment What can urban
communities do on a grassroots level to lessen the effects of
pollution?
• Bullying in schools Is bullying responded to differently
by teachers based on students’ gender?
• Video Games How can video games be used to help
teach language skills to ESL learners?

6. Once you’ve decided on a
research question, think about
what kinds of information you will
need to answer your question. As
you learn more about your topic,
you may find that you’ll need to
adjust your research question.
When you write a research paper,
you will introduce your research
question to your reader in your
thesis statement.
Your paper will describe how you
used the evidence gathered during
research to come to your
conclusion about your topic. Crowd surrounding a woman skating around a giant skillet with slabs of
bacon tied to her feet, holding a giant wooden spatula, Chehalis,
Washington, ca. 1929-1932
If you have questions about how to http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/social,1442
develop a research question, ask a
librarian for advice. We’re happy to
help!

7. Need Help?
Ask a Librarian!
http://library.citytech.cuny.edu/services/ask/