Adopted from OSU Libraries

How to Narrow a Research Topic

Ask yourself these questions:

How to N

arrow a Research Topic

When your research topic is too broad, ask these questions:

• Who?• What?• When?• Where?• Why?

Topic: Immigration reform

• Example broad topic: Immigration reform

• This topic is too broad and needs to be narrowed down to something more specific.

Use AND, OR, NOTUse AND to narrow down a topic. Use OR to broaden a topic.

Use NOT to eliminate a information not wanted.

Who?How

to Narrow

a Research Topic

TOPIC: Immigration reform

Populations

Age

Gender

Race or Ethnicity

NEW TOPIC:Immigration reform for Latinos.

What?How

to Narrow

a Research Topic

TOPIC: Immigration reform

Types

Build a Fence

Tough Laws

Amnesty

NEW TOPIC:How will building a border fence effect illegal immigration?

When?How

to Narrow

a Research Topic

Timeframes

Current or historical view

Period of life

NEW TOPIC:Illegal immigration’s effect on young males.

TOPIC: Immigration reform

Where?How

to Narrow

a Research Topic

TOPIC: Immigration reform

Places

States

Regions

Countries

NEW TOPIC:Illegal immigration in Arizona.

Why?How

to Narrow

a Research Topic

Evaluate

Causes

Treatments

Outcomes

NEW TOPIC:Potential solutions for dealing with illegal immigration.

TOPIC: Immigration reform

Mix n’ MatchHow

to Narrow

a Research Topic

Combine any number of elements that you derive from asking these questions until you find an interesting topic to research.

Some examples:

• Causes and treatment of anorexia in college athletes.

• Prevalence of bulimia in teen-age males in the United States.

• Changes in treatment for compulsive overeaters, 1950-present.

Narrow your topicUse the following resources for an

overview of your topic:1. Encyclopedias – Give a brief

summary1. Print – Found on the Reference

Shelves2. Online - Gale Virtual Reference

Library2. Opposing Viewpoints – (Reference

Articles)3. Issues & Controversies 4. SIRS Issue Researcher

Gun Control

In California

New Laws

Crime

Would there be less crime in California if new laws controlling guns were passed?

Obesity

Youth

Junk Food

Schools

Could the obesity epidemic plaguing our youth be solved by eliminating junk food from schools ?

Construct a keyword searchResearch question:Could the obesity epidemic plaguing our youth be solved by eliminating junk

food from schools ?

“junk food”

And (obesity or obese)

And School*

Sample Search