Research Help Guide: Developing a Research Question

From Kentucky State University (Closed Captioned)

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1. Examine your course outline and your course readings for a topic

2. Frame your topic as a problem - your research will address this problem

3. This is not your final thesis – you can revise your argument as you research

At this early stage, you want to develop a question or problem to guide your research, reading and, writing.

It is unnecessary to generate a definitive thesis statement or argument at this point, as your ideas will evolve.!!

Finding Interesting Ideas

• Review course readings and classroom or tutorial discussions.

• Skim your notes from course readings and lectures for issues, topics or approaches

• Examine your course syllabus for course goals and context that may provide some ideas

Driving Questions

• Develop some driving questions (or problems) to guide your research.

• Begin by considering course themes or issues relevant to your assignment.

• Examine these and then pay attention to questions that come to mind.

Example of a Research Question:

In using the topics of poverty and childhood obesity, here are a few driving questions to consider:

• Are city-run programs successful at reducing the risk of childhood obesity?

• What is being done at the federal, provincial or city level to reduce childhood obesity?

• Why is poverty and childhood obesity linked