- Brandel Library
- Research Guides
- SPAN 2130/SOC 2130
- Coming Up With a Research Question
SPAN 2130/SOC 2130
Coming Up With a Research Question
Picking Your Topic Is Research
Brainstorming with 5Ws and an H
Try asking questions about your topic that begin with one of these words:
- Who
- What
- When
- Where
- Why
- How
Why and How questions can be especially useful for generating dynamic research questions.
Start Your Research with Reference Sources
Reference sources can help you jumpstart your research project by:
- providing a quick overview of a topic,
- identifying key questions that can shape your research,
- pointing you towards other sources on the topic.
Online Reference Sources
Gale Virtual Reference Library
GVRL contains electronic copies of several hundred encyclopedias.Wikipedia
I know I don't need to tell you about Wikipedia! This link is here to remind you that the brainstorming and pre-search stage of research is a great time to use Wikipedia, even if you wouldn't use it as a scholarly source for your paper.
Check the Bibliography
Reference articles typically end with a bibliography or works cited, which you can use to find key books and articles on the topic.