Why Do I Need to Narrow My Focus?
Now that you know more about your topic, you can narrow it to a specific research question. This video explains how to narrow your focus before you search and why that is so important.
How Do I Focus My Research Question?
To narrow your topic, try phrasing it as a question.
| X |
poverty |
| X |
technology |
 |
Would raising the minimum wage reduce the gender pay gap? |
And answer the Five Ws:
- Who?
- What?
- When?
- Where?
- Why? / How?
Try with an Example!
Let's start with a very broad topic: Technology
First, turn it into a question: How does technology affect society?
This is a good start, but the question is very broad. Try using the 5 Ws!
- Who? Children, teens, toddlers, adults, low income families ...
- What? Smartphones, Internet, social media, robots, online education ...
- When? Today, five years in the future, in 1945 ...
- Where? US, worldwide, Pakistan, rural areas, Virginia, Prince William County
- Why / How? Causes and effects
By answering these questions, you can decide whether you want to write about:
- Does using smartphones and tablets hurt toddlers' brain development?
- How can the government prevent job loss due to automation?
- How does limited internet access impact high school students in rural areas?
You won't always address all of the five Ws, but using a few will help narrow your focus.
Check Your Research Question
Once you answer the 5 Ws, we can finally put together a great research question, but make sure that it passes this final test.
A good research question is...
- Specific
Only answer one main research question in your paper. It seems counterintuitive, but a narrow topic is actually easier to research than a broad one. Instead of mentioning many ideas briefly, focus on just a few points and develop them well.
- Interesting
Consider the assignment an opportunity to learn more about something that interests you. Research is easier and more enjoyable when you pick a topic that interests you.
- Unique
Good research tackles new, unusual topics. Instead of "marijuana legalization", try "How should states use tax revenue generated by legalized marijuana?"