A great place to begin your research is by doing background research. Background research can begin as vaguely as needed, sometimes a Wikipedia or Google Search. From there you focus in and use reference resources like the ones listed below to receive information from credible and reliable resources about your topic.
Google it!
When you are choosing a research topic, surveying a number of different kinds of resources can a good way of getting some basic background knowledge on your topic. Try a few different searches (possibly using the terms that you brainstormed in the previous exercise) and see what comes up. From there, you may be able to narrow down a topic.
Example: When I searched for "prison system" OR prisons AND "United States" OR America in Google’s search box, I came across a number of information resources (news, media, nonprofit organizations, videos, books, etc.) related to the history of the prison system in America, as well as information on those trying to reform it. By surveying a few articles and topic overviews here, I can begin to narrow down my focus.
Browse Library Resources
This can be especially helpful if you are wondering if there is any scholarly information on your topic. In addition to perusing the Internet for some basic background information on your areas of interest, the library can offer you the following resources:
Example: I used Points of View Reference Center's topic overviews to build some background knowledge on the Private Prison Industry.
Perplexity
Perplexity (perplexity.ai/) is a free AI search engine designed to revolutionize the way you discover information. Ask any question, and it searches the internet to give you an accessible, conversational, and verifiable answer. It is great for learning about subtopics for your topic and following its sources to read more about them.
Example: If I ask it "What issues exist with Private Prison Industry?" It responds with the following subtopics I could learn more about:
Creating a research question provides focus, direction, and clarity, ensuring that your research is relevant, manageable, and allows you to have an open mind to the information you may find. Your questions should be open-ended to allow for multiple interpretations and in-depth exploration of your topic.
Characteristics of a Good Research Question
In order to create questions that are both appropriate and viable, consider the following:
Consider the amount of pages you need to write or minutes you need to present. Is your topic too big or too simple for the length requirement?
Consider if your topic is appropriate for an academic paper/project. The question is researchable in terms of time and access to a suitable amount of quality research resources. If you had a hard time finding information on your topic when you were doing background research, then you may want to reconsider your topic.
Make sure your question is analytical rather than descriptive. The research question should allow you to produce an analysis of an issue or problem rather than a simple description of it. In other words, it is not answerable with a simple “yes” or “no” but requires a synthesis and analysis of ideas and sources.
TIP: Start your research question with How or Why. Who, what, where, and when questions are usually easily answered questions and don't require a synthesis or analysis of ideas.
Examples: How does the private prison industry contribute to the issue of mass incarceration in the United States?
How does the private prison industry influence criminal sentences for low level drug offenders?
