WRIT 1120: Seminar in Research Writing: Pre-Search

Encyclopedias

Specialized encyclopedias are great sources of background information. BGSU Libraries subscribe to a variety of subject-specific encyclopedias. These are written by academics to give overviews of topics or concepts or ideas for ways to narrow your topic, particularly from the lens of their discipline. (Think Wikipedia, but for academics). 

eBook Chapters

As an academic library, BGSU subscribes to many educational and academic eBooks that may serve as an introduction to a particular subject area, with each chapter going into detail about a particular aspect. Read through the table of contents in the eBooks to identify a chapter title that addresses something you'd like to know about your topic.

What is a research question?
A research question is the question around which you center your research. You should ask a question about an issue that you are genuinely curious and/or passionate about. It should be:

• clear: it provides enough specifics that one’s audience can easily understand its purpose without needing additional explanation.
• focused: it is narrow enough that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the writing task allows.
• concise: it is expressed in the fewest possible words.
• complex: it is not answerable with a simple “yes” or “no,” but rather requires synthesis and analysis of ideas and sources prior to composition of an answer.
• arguable: its potential answers are open to debate rather than accepted facts.

Going from a topic to a more specific research question

Once you have a basic understanding of your topic and the issues surrounding it, narrow your research question by asking the following questions:

• Who? Are you interested in a specific group of people? Can you narrow your focus to a group or demographic, such as age, gender, ethnicity, location, or socioeconomic status? Who is involved? Who is impacted by this topic?
• What? What are current issues around this topic? Is there anything in the news about it? What don't you know about your topic?
• When? Is your topic current or historical? Did it happen during a specific time period? Are there any important events surrounding your topic? 
• Where? Can your topic focus on a specific location? Where, geographically, might this topic be significant?
• Why? Why is this topic important? Why should others be interested?
• How? How can this topic/issue be addressed?

Your research question may change over time as you find more information about your topic or take out ideas that don't work.

Examples

• What are the most effective dietary changes for treating depression and anxiety?
• How do female managers' work-life balance decisions affect their opportunities for promotion to upper-level management positions in Fortune 500 IT companies?
• What are the difficulties for immigrants adjusting to life in the U.S. and what is the best way to maintain their cultural identity?
• What strategies are effective for preventing nicotine vaping in youth?

*Encyclopedia: a book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject and typically arranged alphabetically. (definition from Oxford Languages)

*Handbook: a book giving information such as facts on a particular subject (definition from Oxford Languages)