History 131/132 Research Guide

What is a research question? Basically it is a question or thesis that you center your research around. This page will help you understand a questions purpose and create one. 

Be sure to check the video out at the bottom of the page

Why do you need a Research Question?

• It helps the writer focus their research. 

• Leads a writer on the path through research and writing

• Prevents the writer from putting together a paper or presentation with everything in it.

• Allows the writer to have a more "focused" paper

What are the characteristics of a Research Question?

• Clear - Contains enough information for the ready/audience to understand its purpose

• Focused - Narrow enough to be answered in the assignment parameters

• Concise - Expressed in the fewest words possible

• Complex - Cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. Requires analysis of ideas and data before answering

• Arguable - Potential answers can be debated. Not blindly accepted facts. 

Steps to create/develop a Research Question

• Choose an interesting topic - If the writer is interested in the topic, it shows in the writing
• Do some preliminary research 
  • Scan some magazines/journals to see what's already been written about your topic
    • Helps narrow the writers focus
  • Check out some dictionaries or subject encyclopedias to get an idea of the terms used
  • What issues are being discussed related to your topic
• Start asking questions
  • ​​​​​​​Open ended, "How" and "Why" questions about your topic
• ​​​​​​​Evaluate your question - After you have a couple of questions written down, evaluate them.
  • ​​​​​​​Is the question clear?
  • Is the question foused?
  • Is the question complex enough? (Cannot be answered with yes or no)
• ​​​​​​​Start your research
  • ​​​​​​​What types of resources will you need?
  • Who can help you with research and resources?

Check out the video below for some more guidance. 

Check out this video from the Steely Library at Northern Kentucky University