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No Results: Stuck in the Search Loop

This guide provides help with rethinking your search strategy when you've hit a wall in your research.

How to write a research question. Number one: choose your topic. Start searching references sources such as encyclopedias on the topic you want to write on. Number two: explore interesting areas in your topic. Start narrowing your topic by asking questions such as who, when, and where. Number three: ask questions about the who, when, and where. Build on the questions you asked about who, when, and where with how and why. Number four: focus and deepen the question. Is your how or why question complex and focused? Can it be answered with yes or no? If yes, narrow it down further. Number five: evaluate the final question. How interesting is the question to you? Can you write an entire paper on the question without getting bored or running out of things to say? Can the question be answered or is it impossible to answer? What information do you need to answer the question?

WRITING A RESEARCH QUESTION

  1. Choose Your Topic
    • Start searching reference sources such as encyclopedias on the topic you want to write on.
  2. Explore Interesting Areas in Your Topic
    • Start narrowing your topic by asking questions such as:
      • Who?
      • When?
      • Where?
  3. Ask Some Questions about the Who? When? Where?
    • Build on the questions you asked about who, when, and where with:
      • How?
      • Why?
  4. Focus and Deepen the Question
    • Is your how or why question complex and focused? Can it be answered with YES or NO? 
      • If YES, narrow it down further.
  5. Evaluate the Final Question
    • How interesting is the question to you? 
    • Can you write an entire paper on the question without getting bored or running out of things to say? 
    • Can the question be answered or is it impossible to answer?
    • What information do you need to answer the question?