The Research Process

Now that you have a general sense of your topic, you want to develop several research questions.

The answers to these research questions should have the potential to impact what you think about the topic, so avoid questions that will lead only to information that supports your current thinking.

If any of your initial questions (from Step 1) were not answered using background information, you may be able to develop them into research questions.

Consider where you might find information to answer your research questions: articles, books, audiovisual materials, government publications, websites, etc.

Example topic 1: The Ghost in Hamlet

• What have literary critics said about the role of the Ghost in Hamlet?
• What were the prevailing beliefs in Elizabethan times about ghosts?
• Did Shakespeare use ghosts in other plays, and, if so, how?

Potential sources: books, journal articles

Example topic 2: Current ideas about autism

• Do we know what causes autism?
• Are there different forms of autism, and how are they different?
• How is autism treated by the medical community?

Potential sources: books, articles

Example topic 3: Procter & Gamble's animal testing

• How has Procter & Gamble used animals to test their products?
• Does Procter & Gamble publish its corporate position on animal testing?
• How has Procter & Gamble responded to boycotts for testing products on animals?

Potential sources: articles, websites