History 300: A Guide to Research: Topics & Research Questions

Selecting a Topic

Choosing a topic can be one of the most challenging parts of getting started.

• Review your assignment description. Are there any restrictions or guidelines?
  • Are there suggestions or requirements on the types of resources you should use to inform your project?
  • Are there parameters on how long your project should be?
  • When is your assignment due? 
• What are you interested in or passionate about? Is there a connection from another course you'd like to build on?
  • Review course readings, discussions, and other materials
    • What topics, authors, or time periods covered do you find most interesting?
    • What haven't you covered yet in class that you want to learn more about?

Developing a Topic with Concept Mapping

What is a concept map?

A concept map is a visual representation of what you know about a topic. Concept maps help you organize your thoughts and explore the relationships in a topic. Use a concept map to organize and represent what you know about a topic. Explore the connections between elements of the topic. 

Why use a concept map?

Concept maps can be used to develop a research topic. They are a useful brainstorming tool.

Concept maps can be used to study. Mapping what you know about a subject and examining the relationships between elements help you develop a greater understanding of the material.

How do I create a concept map?

• On paper
• On a whiteboard
• Online
  • Bubbl.us
  • Popplet
  • Trello
• Any way that works for you!

How do I organize the map?

Most of the time you start with the central idea, topic, or subject. Then you branch out from that central point and show how the main idea can be broken into specific subtopics. Each subtopic can also be broken into even more specific topics.

Reference sources can be useful for learning more about your topic and developing research questions—you might even get some ideas by browsing the contents or index of a specialized reference book. Check out the Finding Reference/Tertiary Sources page or the Research Starters, but here are some general e-reference sources to explore:

Types of Questions

They are many types of questions you can ask about your topic. 

• Ask about the history of your topic.
  • example: How have anti-smoking movements changed public opinion over time?
• Ask about how your topic fits into the context of a larger structure.
  • ​What role does smoking cessation play in healthy lifestyle behaviors?​
• Ask how your topic can be categorized.
  • ​How do internet-based smoking cessation programs compare to traditional group therapy interventions?​
• Turn positive questions into negative ones.
  • ​Why haven't pharmacotherapies been effective for long-term smoking cessation?
• Ask what if, or other speculative questions.
  • Can cognitive-behavioral treatments improve smoking cessation outcomes?
• Ask questions suggested by your sources or reading.

Adapted from The Craft of Research, by W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, and J. M. Williams

Moving from Topic to Research Question

The following steps can help you transition from a topic to a research question:

​1. Define the topic area. In a sentence or two, describe your broad topic or area of research.

• Smoking cessation​

2. Describe the problem. In a sentence or two, describe a problem that could be addressed in your topic or area of research.

• Smokers often relapse because of complex physical and psychological factors.

​3. Specify the gap and justify the investigation. What is unknown or unresolved? Why should we bother investigating it?

• We don’t know what combination of physical and psychological factors is most often associated with smoking relapse.​

4. Create the research question. 

• Brainstorm as many questions as you can think of that relate to your research topic/problem/gap. Try starting questions with what, why, when, where, who, and how; in general, avoid questions that will result in only “yes” or “no” answers.

Adapted from the University of Guelph Libraries 

Question Drafting Checklist

• Explore your topic
  • Have you done preliminary research?
  • What is the current scholarly conversation about your topic?
  • Consider how your research question will engage with the current information, controversies, and debates about your topic
• Decide your research scope
  • What places, settings, timeframes or populations will be included?
  • What type of question are (what, when, where, why, how,  who) are you asking?
  • Does your research explore the topic, explain the topic, or describe the topic?
  • Does your research explore potential relationships?
• Compose your question
  • Use the answers to the questions above to compose your research question
• Evaluate your question
  • Is it clear and easy to understand?
  • Is it focused and answerable?
  • Is it complex?
    • Avoid simple questions that can be answered with yes or no.
• Revise your question
  • You will almost certainly revise your question at least once, and probably more than once. Your research will help refine your question, and your question will help direct your research.
  • Research, revise, research, revise—seriously, revise!

Pitfalls to Avoid

UNCLEAR:  What are the harmful effects of cell phones?

Clear: What impact does mining for metals used in cell phones have on the environment?

• The first version of this research question is a little unclear.  The revised version adds additional information that focuses the question. When writing research questions:
  • Try to avoid assumptions, for example, that something is harmful.
  • Try to avoid ambiguity and be clear in all aspects of your question.

UNFOCUSED: What is the effect of pollution on waterways?  

Focused: How does phosphorus from agricultural industrial pollution impact rural watersheds?

• The first version of this research question is a little too broad.  There are entire books written about pollution and various bodies of water. The revised version adds additional information that focuses the question to something that could be answerable in a research paper, by specifying the type of pollutant, pollution, and the specific water feature. When writing research questions:
  • Try to produce a question that is answerable in one paper.
  • Be specific as possible.

TOO SIMPLE: What is the political party system of the United States?   

Appropriately complex: What role does the two-party system play in gerrymandering?

• When writing research questions:
  • Try to produce a question that is complex enough to answer with a paper rather than an internet search.