How to do Research in College

What makes a good research question?

• Narrow Focus
• Answer is not obvious
• You can actually research it (there is evidence out there for you to find)
• Question is clear and has a single focus

The best way to Focus Your Topic is to ask questions about it. Consider the five W's when trying to figure out what you want to research:

Who? Limit your topic to a specific person or group.

What? Limit your topic to a particular aspect of the topic or discipline.

Where? Limit your topic to a particular place or region.

When? Limit your topic to a particular period of time.

Why? Ask why the topic is important.

Remember you can limit your topic in more than one way. For example limit it to a "who" and a "what" or a "when" and a "where".

Mix and match the five Ws until you've created a Good Research Question.

Create Keywords from your research question

• Place the main concepts of your research question horizontally in the first row.
• Add synonyms and like ideas vertically under each original concept.
• Try to come up with at least two or three synonyms for each concept.
• Try different combinations of keywords when searching the databases.
• Draw a chart like the one below or use the handout below to create your search terms.

 Research Question: How do violent video games affect children? 

Main Concepts  ----------------------------------->

 Need help coming up with synonyms? Try using www.thesaurus.com or looking at “related searches” in Google.

Databases can also give you ideas for other words. Do a search with your original concepts and see what you get!

Download these worksheet to practice searching library databases, creating keywords, and evaulating sources.

Databases automatically place:

AND

Between each of the keywords you type into the search box.

This will only find articles that include ALL your keywords.

The MORE keywords you use the FEWER articles you will receive.

Choose your keywords carefully and don't add too many to a search.

Need more help?
These step-by-step database tutorials will show you how to use specific library databases