This document provides guidance on developing a research question. It recommends starting with basic questions about your topic after doing some preliminary research using sources like newspapers, reference books, and databases. This initial research can help narrow your focus and identify search terms. The document suggests asking more defining, analytical, and interpretive questions to further guide your research. It emphasizes that research questions should not just direct your search but also help outline your paper. Instructors want students to reflect on their research and come to their own conclusions, so questions should involve self-discovery about the topic.

1. POLI 1-004 (Spring 2010) Pedro Reynoso Outreach & Instruction Librarian preynoso@chabotcollege.edu Developing a Research Question

2. Start simply by asking a few basic questions about your topic—even though you may not know a whole lot about your topic Example: say you hear/read about the recent Supreme Court ruling (1/21/10) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, what questions does it prompt? How can a corporation be legally considered a person? What are the potential negative/positive effects of allowing corporations to fund political advertisements? How will big corporations influence future elections? Getting started…

3. Familiarize yourself with the topic by doing some preliminary research: Daily Newspaper (SF Chronicle) Reference Books (encyclopedia) CQ Researcher (database) Benefits of finding background information: Narrowing your focus Indentifying search terms Answer initial questions Prompt more questions Do some preliminary reading…

4. Ask yourself more questions after your initial background research: Defining Questions What is ______________? Why is _____________ an important issue? What is the history of ____________? Analytical/Interpretative Questions What are the effects of _________? What are the pro arguments about ________? What are the con arguments about ________? What is being done about ___________? Brainstorm more questions…

5. Why? Your research questions not only guide your research, but they can also be used to outline the flow of your actual paper Example: What is same-sex marriage? Why is same-sex marriage a controversial issue? What is the history of this issue? What are the effects of same-sex marriage? What is being done now to advance/oppose same-sex marriage? Outline your questions…

6. Your instructors don’t want you to merely report on your topic; they want you to spend time reflecting on your research and coming to your own conclusions. Example: “Based on my research, what do I think about the issue of________________? Why?” Make your question one of self-discovery

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