Think of ways to narrow overly broad topics to more interesting research questions by identifying specific angles or aspects, such as in the examples below. Ask open ended questions (how/why) instead of questions with just a yes/no answer.
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Overly Broad or Overdone Topics
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Different Aspects to Explore
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More Focused Research Questions
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Immigration
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Economic
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How does immigration impact employment opportunities for documented citizens?
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Political |
What responsibility do nations have in providing asylum to refugees? |
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Global |
Compared to the US, how are other countries addressing immigration and how effective are these measures? |
| Legalizing Marijuana |
Economic |
How have the economies of states that have legalized marijuana been impacted? |
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Social/Legal |
How has the legalization of marijuana affected incarceration rates and recidivism? |
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Global |
How does legalizing marijuana in parts of the US impact the international drug trade? |
| Minimum Wage |
Economic |
How does raising the minimum wage impact prices for consumers, and does this hurt or help the economy? |
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Political |
Should there be a federal minimum wage, or should it be determined at state and local levels and why? |
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Social |
What impact does raising the minimum wage have on the value of a college degree or professional credentials? |