Research and Information

LiteracyCreating the Research Question

Professor Michael Kahn

Gill Library The College of New Rochelle

(718) 683-2500 extension 6823mkahn@cnr.edu

Based on a PowerPoint created by Professor Susan Acampora, Librarian, The College of New Rochelle

Getting Started:

Finding a Topic Asking a Research Question

Today’s lesson is about creating an effective research question.

By the end of today’s lesson you will be able to answer the following question:

What are the steps that we should take to create an effective research question?

1. Pick a Topic1. CREDO, Opposing Viewpoints

2. Focus Your Topic (Not Too Narrow or Broad)1. Obtain Background Information2. Reference Sources, Concept Mapping (CREDO,

Gale Academic OneFile)3. Create a Scholarly Research Question

1. Data As Tool Not Data As Goal2. Effective Vs. Ineffective Research Questions

Very Simple Steps To Writing a Research Question

Something in the news? A personal or professional experience Something you have always wanted to

know more about

We have databases can supply you with topic ideas

CREDO, Gale Academic OneFile, Opposing Viewpoints, ProQuest Research

Pick A Topic

Find out more about your topic: Starting places: Google Wikipedia Blogs News Magazines Conversations TV anywhere and everywhere. EXPLORE!

Pick A Topic

Encyclopedias Gale Virtual Reference Library

Badke page 35 mentions some free online other encyclopedias

Useful Databases and Websites for Background Information

Example of how someone developed a

research interest

For example:

“Norman…while watching news reports of the Iraq War, noticed dry and barren land, yet history had taught him that this land between the Tigress and the Euphrates rivers was formerly a land of fruit and honey….What happened to it?

Norman’s interest = water - or - the world’s water supply

Excerpted from Lester and Lester. Writing Research Papers. Page 10

Browsing in National Geographic or online Norman finds an article He learns from the article above:Satellite technology shows:

Over the last 40 years 30 + large dams have been built Reduce available water Eliminate nourishing floodwaters Resulting in damage to the marshlands and

devastation to wildlife And reducing the water supply to the

residents This ancient land is not what is once was!

He also learns that:

1.Before satellites it was up to individual countries whether or not to assess and report environmental damage

2.With Satellite technology now all nations can see what is going on 3. “Everyone has a clearer and more accessible picture on environmental damage.

Norman’s questions have multipliedHis topic has expanded to include many considerations

1.The ethics the world’s distribution of water 2.The history of the global water shortage3.The global water crisis4.The environmental implications of progress 5.The impact of global water crisis on

individuals and communities6.The impact of water distribution on the poor

Scholarly Focus

Norman started with an interest in WaterHe chooses the scholarly focus on:Water Distribution and Shortage as the Next Global Environmental Crisis

Opposing Viewpoints in Context Academic One File Credo Wikipedia Google Search Keyword

Use Tools to Find and develop ideas

After perusing popular sites and articles consult an academic source such as:

CREDO Reference Search under your topic for a general overview Ask questions about the research Read and begin to develop your ideas into a

draft thesis statement

Next Step-Choose a Subtopic

CNR Databases

Opposing Viewpoints

Gale Academic OneFileTerm Clusters

CREDO MindMap

Meditation and Stress Reduction Who-veterans with PTSD What-mindfulness meditation When-The last five years-returning from Iraq and

Afghanistan Where-in the United States Why-How can mindfulness meditation be used

to reduce stress among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan?

Next Step-Focus Your Topic (Not Too Narrow or Too Broad)

Research Question should NOT be a factual question

It should be either a Problem solving question Compare and contrast question Evaluative question

Finally, Write a Research Question

Example: What happened on 9/11? Why did Bin Laden attack the US?

Not a Factual QuestionThere is no point in re-describing what has already been

described-Badke, 36

How can the United States be better prepared so that another 9/11 like terrorist attacks doesn’t happen?

Problem Solving Question

What are the major differences between the Taliban and ISIS?

Compare and Contrast Question

How successful has the US been in fighting foreign terrorism?

Evaluative Question

Check the See Also Section And References

WikiPedia

Session 2 Video on Concept Mapping

Exploding an Idea through Concept Mapping

Data as Goal Vs.

Data as ToolBadke, 25-30

What is Research

2-1

Unfortunately, this is what passes for a research model among many students

2-2

Climate Change Find out everything you know about climate

change explain it all in a paper Example: Provide a general overview of what climate

change is.

Data as Goal Example

Climate Change Read basic data on climate change Discover an issue related to climate change such as Climate change is a natural phenomenon rather

than something created by greedy human beings Ask a question like: How convincing is the scientific support for climate

change as a natural phenomenon as opposed to being primarily the result of human activity?

Data as Tool Example

2-4

2-5

2-6

2-7

2-8

2-9

The question that isn’t there The fuzzy question-Why was Saddam Hussein the way he was? The multi-part question-Why did the financial meltdown of

2008 happen? Should people have foreseen it? Were the government measures to solve it the right ones to use? How can we prevent such future meltdowns?

The open ended question-What were the implications of the end of WW II?

The question that won’t fly-data will simple not answer it. Is todays generation smarter than the previous one because it knows how to text?

Badke’s 4 Types of Research Questions To Avoid (38-39)

Pick a topic based related to the Social Sciences Personal interest Recent News Conversations in person or through a social network A subject covered in another class Something you have always wanted to know about

Develop a question that is either Problem solving Compare and Contrast Evaluative And seeks Data as Tool NOT data as Goal

Write a Thesis Statement

Your Turn