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First Year Instruction: RWS, LING, and GEN S

A guide for librarians

Learning Objectives

Usually students arrive to the workshop with at least a broad topic chosen for their research.  However there are instructors who give their students total freedom with choosing a topic and they have yet to choose one by the time they're in the workshop.  For those cases, I've included a pre-topic development step. 

*Pre-topic development- Use databases like CQ Researcher, Opposing Viewpoints, and NewYorkTimes.com to identify topics of interest. 

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  1. Find relevant background information using reference resources such as Gale Virtual Reference Library and Credo Reference
  2. Identify subtopics and focus your broad topic using provided topic development methods such as topic development charts, mind maps, and other methods
  3. Formulate a focused research question or statement 
  4. Understand that the research question may undergo revisions throughout the research process

Topic Development Methods

The following topic development methods can be helpful for students who need to turn a broad topic into a focused research question or statement.  

1: Ask Questions
  • What is your topic? (i.e. social media, plastic waste, freedom of speech, sleep deprivation)
  • What is the context of your research? (school, hospital, community)
  • What do you want to achieve? (to discover, explore, explain, or compare)
  • What is the nature of your question? (is it a who, what, where, when, how, or why question)
  • Are there potential relationships between variables that you want to explore? (causes, correlations, increases, decreases)
 
2: Use a Topic Development Chart

Brainstorm ideas by writing 2-3 terms in one or more of the columns (hint: this will help you to come up with search terms later). 

Broad topic:
Artificial intelligence

 

Subtopics

(What?)

Person(s) 

(Who?)

Time Period

(When?)

Location/Place

(Where?)

Other ideas

(events, social issues)

Search engine algorithms

 

Facial recognition technology

 

Social media

 

Advertising

Teenagers

 

Women

 

African Americans

 

Doctors/physicians

Now (current)

 

Early 2000s

United States

 

China

 

Russia

 

 

Covid-19

 

Racial inequality

 

Sexism

 

Political polarization
Focused research questions: 
Does facial recognition technology perpetuate racial inequality?
What can be done about the negative effects of social media on teenage girls?
3: Try a Mind Map

You can draw your own, or explore the interactive mind maps on the Credo Reference database. 

Topic Development Pitfalls

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Watch out for these common pitfalls when developing a research question/thesis:

  • Too narrow: a question that is so narrowly focused that there is probably no literature to be found on the topic- or very little. 
  • Too broad: a question that is so broad it would be impossible to cover in depth in one research paper.
  • Too vague/unclear: use of words like 'good' or 'bad' in your research question. It should be clear what exactly you are asking.  
  • Easily searchable: a simple google search gives you the answer.  Avoid questions that can be easily answered with one word, a number, or a list. 
  • Matter of opinion: a question that cannot be answered in some subjective manner.  

Learner Activities & Assessment