If you have too many matches, it can be hard to tell what you're looking at and even harder to tell if something is what you need. You will know your topic is too broad if...
Example that is too broad: Marine Conservation
Look at what you can make either more specific or less specific in order to land on a topic that is just right. You'll know your topic is just right if...
An example of a topic that is just right: Coral Reef conservation in the Caribbean.
It can be easy to get so specific that your topic either doesn't exist (yet) or your words show up in your results but not in a useful way.
An example that is too narrow: Captive lionfish breeding
A research question is a question that you hope to find an answer to during your research. Topics are typically general in concept, such as "coral reef conservation in the Caribbean", but it's important to ask yourself what you want to know about them. This question should be clear, focused, and not be something that can logically be answered with a yes or no. Following is an example of a research question in need of improvement and how to make it better:
The answer is yes, which means we need to improve this topic. An easy way is to start thinking about who, what, when, where, why, and how as it relates to your topic. You can also consider to what extent something is related to help it become a more open-ended question. In our example, we need to be more specific.
Once you have a research question, you should write it down somewhere! While your research question is likely to change throughout the research process, it's good to have it handy as you start working.
Articles from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference sources from all subject areas. Includes images, audio pronunciation files, maps, and data tables.
Collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries and topical content covering a variety of subject areas.
Articles from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and reference sources from all subject areas. Includes quotations, maps, and illustrations.
