How to Narrow a Research Topic

Adopted from OSU Libraries

 Ask yourself these questions:

When your research topic is too broad,

ask these questions:
• Who?

How to Narrow a Research Topic

• What?
• When?
• Where?
• Why?
 Topic: Immigration reform

• Example broad topic: Immigration reform

• This topic is too broad and needs to be
narrowed down to something more
specific.
 Use AND, OR, NOT
Use AND to narrow down a topic. Use OR to broaden a topic.

Use NOT to eliminate a information not wanted.

 Who?

TOPIC: Immigration reform

How to Narrow a Research Topic

Populations

Age
NEW TOPIC:
Gender
Immigration reform
for Latinos.
Race or
Ethnicity
 What?

TOPIC: Immigration reform

How to Narrow a Research Topic

Types

Build a Fence
NEW TOPIC:
Tough Laws
How will building a
border fence effect
Amnesty
illegal immigration?
 When?

TOPIC: Immigration reform

How to Narrow a Research Topic

Timeframes

Current or
historical NEW TOPIC:
view
Illegal immigration’s
Period of effect on young
life males.
 Where?

TOPIC: Immigration reform

How to Narrow a Research Topic

Places

States NEW TOPIC:

Illegal immigration in
Regions
Arizona.

Countries
 Why?
TOPIC: Immigration reform

How to Narrow a Research Topic

Evaluate

Causes

NEW TOPIC:
Treatments
Potential solutions
Outcomes for dealing with
illegal immigration.
Mix n’ Match

Combine any number of elements that you derive from asking

these questions until you find an interesting topic to research.

How to Narrow a Research Topic

Some examples:

• Causes and treatment of anorexia in college athletes.

• Prevalence of bulimia in teen-age males in the United States.

• Changes in treatment for compulsive overeaters, 1950-present.

 Narrow your topic

Use the following resources for an

overview of your topic:
1. Encyclopedias – Give a brief
summary
1. Print – Found on the Reference Shelves
2. Online - Gale Virtual Reference Library
2. Opposing Viewpoints – (Reference
Articles)
3. CQ Researcher (Print and Online)
 Gun Control

In California

New Laws

Crime

Would there be less crime in California if new laws controlling guns were passed?
 Obesity

Youth

Junk Food

Schools

Could the obesity epidemic plaguing our youth be solved by eliminating junk food from schools ?
 Construct a keyword search
Research question:
Could the obesity epidemic plaguing our youth be solved by eliminating junk
food from schools ?

Sample Search
“junk food”
And (obesity or obese)

And School*