This document provides tips for refining a research topic by either broadening or narrowing the scope. It suggests broadening a topic that yields too little information by exploring related issues, comparing to another topic, choosing an older topic, or expanding the time period, population, or geographic area. Alternatively, it advises narrowing an overly broad topic by specifying a person/group, aspect, region, time period, or reason for importance to focus the research.

1. Refine Your
Search
Writing a Research Paper

2. Broaden Search
If you are not finding enough information, your topic may be too narrow.
Consider broadening it by:
 Exploring related issues;
 Comparing or contrasting the topic with another topic;
 Choosing an alternative topic that is not so recent;
 Considering the time period covered;
 Broadening the population considered;
 Expanding the geographic area discussed;
 Choosing an alternative topic that is not so popular -- it may be covered in
popular magazines and tabloids only.

3. Narrow Search
Narrowing a topic requires you to be more specific about your research interest.
Questions to narrow your topic:
 Who is the specific person/group to which you would like to limit your research?
 What specific aspect of the broad topic idea is interesting to you?
 To which specific geographic area or region would you like to limit your research?
 On what time period would you like your research focused?
 Why do you think this is an important/interesting topic?