2.

Creating a Research Question

Notes for faculty

Students often begin their research (and writing) with a very broad topic. This means they
waste a lot of time looking for resources that they will never use. Before they begin to research,
it is ideal to have a
focused question. This assignment teaches them how to turn a very broad topic into a focused
research question.

Estimated time to complete: 10

minutes
 Creating a Research Question

Assignment

The table below provides samples of four research topics and illustrates how to develop a research
question from a broad topic. Follow the four examples down the columns to see how the questions
develop.

Broad Pollution Animal rights Obesity Steroids

topic
Restricted Wetlands Circus Obese children Steroids used in
topic athletics
Narrowed Wetlands in New Use of animals in Obese children High school
topic Orleans America’s circuses ages 5-11. athletes and
steroids
Research How did the destruction Should use of How do we combat Should it be
question of wetlands in New animals for circus the problem of mandatory to test
Orleans affect the entertainment be obesity in high school
impact of Hurricane outlawed? elementary schools? athletes for
Katrina? steroids?

Now try it yourself using these topics. In the last 2 columns, make up your own topics.

Broad topic Anxiety Privacy Social media Online teaching platform

Restricted topic EF learners’ EF learners’ privacy Social media in Useful online teaching
anxiety language teaching platforms in virtual
classrooms.

Narrowed topic The effects of The differences between The advantages of The platforms that are
anxiety to EF EF learners’ privacy social media into useful for teaching in
learners during when living with their language teaching for virtual classrooms for EF
pandemic own family and their EF learners majoring in learners majoring in
privacy when living in language teaching language teaching
the dorm.
Research How do EF How do the differences How can EF students How can EF learners
question learners minimize between EF learners’ who are majoring in majoring in language
the detrimental privacy when living language teaching teaching can make use of
impacts of anxiety with their own family make use of social online teaching platforms
during pandemic? and their privacy when media to increase their in virtual classroom?
living in the dorm affect teaching productivity?
their relationship with
these people?

Topic 1: Anxiety:
STEP 1: Identify: Anxiety
STEP 2: Dissect:
The causes of anxiety to EF learners during pandemic
The transformation from anxiety to depression
The effects of anxiety to EF learners during pandemic
The activities to deal with anxiety of EF learners
STEP 3: Select: The effects of anxiety to EF learners during pandemic
STEP 4: Raise questions: How do EF learners minimize the detrimental impacts of anxiety during
pandemic?
STEP 5: Formulate objectives:
Main objective: to find out the effects of anxiety to EF learners during pandemic
Specific objective: to find out what kinds of anxiety EF learners can have during pandemic
to determine the ways in which EF learners deal with/address the harmful impacts of different anxiety
during pandemic.
STEP 6: Make sure
STEP 7: Double-check

Topic 2: Privacy

STEP 1: Identify: Privacy

STEP 2: Dissect:

The differences between EF learners’ privacy when living with their own family and their privacy
when living in the dorm

The effects of privacy to EF students’ relationship with their roommates or their family
STEP 3: Select: The differences between EF learners’ privacy when living with their own family
and their privacy when living in the dorm.
STEP 4: Raise questions: How do the differences between EF learners’ privacy when living with
their own family and their privacy when living in the dorm affect their relationship with these
people?
STEP 5: Formulate objectives
Main objective: to find out the differences between EF learners’ privacy when living with their own
family and their privacy when living in the dorm
Specific objectives: to find out which types of privacy can be violated
To determine what ways the privacy differences can affect the relationship among EF learners and
their roommates or family.
STEP 6: Make sure
STEP 7: Double check

Topic 3: Social media

STEP 1: Identify: Social media
STEP 2: Dissect:
The detrimental effects of social media on EF learners
The advantages of social media into language teaching
STEP 3: Select: The advantages of social media into language teaching
STEP 4: Raise question: How can EF students who are majoring in language teaching make use of
social media to increase their teaching productivity?
STEP 5: Formulate objective: to find out the advantages of social media into language teaching
Specific objectives: to find out what kinds of social media can be beneficial in language teaching
to determine the ways in which EF students majoring in language teaching can make use of social
media
STEP 6: Make sure
STEP 7: Double check

Topic 4: Online teaching platforms

STEP 1: Identify: Online teaching platforms

STEP 2: Dissect:
The platforms that are useful for teaching in virtual classrooms.
The disadvantages of learning through online platforms compared with face-to-face classrooms.
The advantages of learning through online to EF learners
STEP 3: Select: The platforms that are useful for teaching in virtual classrooms.
STEP 4: Raise question: How can EF learners majoring in language teaching can make use of
online teaching platforms in virtual classroom?
STEP 5: Formulating objectives
Main objective: to find out the platforms that are useful for teaching in virtual classrooms.
Specific objectives: to determine in what ways EF learners majoring in language teaching can take
advantage of online teaching platforms in virtual classrooms
To find out how to minimize the negative impacts when not learning face to face.