8.2.1: Narrowing a Topic
- Page ID
- 140989
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Defining your research question is a process of working from the outside in: you start with the world of all possible topics (or your assigned topic) and narrow down until you have focused your interest enough to be able to state precisely what you want to find out, instead of only what you want to “write about.”
Going through this process can be the hardest part of doing research, but once you have a question that is realistically scoped (not too broad, not too narrow) it will guide the rest of your work.
The Process of Narrowing a Topic
ACTIVITY: Which Topic is Narrower?
Now it’s your turn. Practice thinking about narrower topics with these 3 examples. Click the arrow to show the next question.
For the general topic "Harry Potter," which is a narrower topic?
Check all that apply.
- The supernatural.
- Death.
- Friendship and Harry Potter.
- Harry Potter and the power of choice.
- Answer
-
- Friendship and Harry Potter.
- Harry Potter and the power of choice.
For the general topic "forest fires," which is a narrower topic?
Check all that apply.
- Forests.
- Forest management practices and fire risk.
- Fires.
- Forest fires and climate change.
- Answer
-
- Forest management practices and fire risk.
- Forest fires and climate change.
For the general topic of "policing," which is a narrower topic?
Check all that apply.
- Criminal justice system in Canada.
- Policing and artificial intelligence.
- The Canadian Criminal Code.
- Police misconduct and ethnic representation.
- Answer
-
- Policing and artificial intelligence.
- Police misconduct and ethnic representation.
Source
Image: “Rq-narrow” by Teaching and Learning, University Libraries is licensed under CC BY-4.0.