Can a research question be too broad?
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You want to select a topic that is neither too broad or to narrow. See if you can select topics with a "just right" scope from the options below. Show Air pollution in urban areasToo Broad Too Narrow Just Right ✔ Yes! This one is too broad. You would need to identify an aspect of air pollution to narrow the scope. ✖ This one is too broad. You would need to identify an aspect of air pollution to narrow the scope. ✖ This one is too broad. You would need to identify an aspect of air pollution to narrow the scope. Respiratory diseases in children in high-density urban areasToo Broad Too Narrow Just Right ✖ Just right! There should be enough information to get you started. You will continue to refine your topic as you learn more. ✖ Just right! There should be enough information to get you started. You will continue to refine your topic as you learn more. ✔ Yes! Just right! There should be enough information to get you started. You will continue to refine your topic as you learn more. Environmental consequences of California’s October 2007 forest firesToo Broad Too Narrow Just Right ✖ A bit narrow. It will be hard to find enough information on just one event. ✔ Yes! A bit narrow. It will be hard to find enough information on just one event. ✖ A bit narrow. It will be hard to find enough information on just one event. Polar bear adaptation to global warming in the ArcticToo Broad Too Narrow Just Right ✖ Just right! There should be enough information to get you started. You will continue to refine your topic as you proceed with your research. ✖ Just right! There should be enough information to get you started. You will continue to refine your topic as you proceed with your research. ✔ Yes! Just right! There should be enough information to get you started. You will continue to refine your topic as you proceed with your research. Renewable energy in the United StatesToo Broad Too Narrow Just Right ✔ Yes! This is a good starting point, but it is too broad. Try focusing your research on a specific renewable energy, like "sun" or "wind". ✖ This is a good starting point, but it is too broad. Try focusing your research on a specific renewable energy, like "sun" or "wind". ✖ Yes! This is a good starting point, but it is too broad. Try focusing your research on a specific renewable energy, like "sun" or "wind". Sierra Club campaign to close down 1970s-era coal plants in TexasToo Broad Too Narrow Just Right ✖ A bit narrow. It will be hard to find enough information on just one event. ✔ Yes! A bit narrow. It will be hard to find enough information on just one event. ✖ A bit narrow. It will be hard to find enough information on just one event. TIP: Be FlexibleIt is common to modify your topic during the research process. You can never be sure of what you may find. You may find too much and need to narrow your focus, or too little and need to broaden your focus. This is a normal part of the research process. When researching, you may not wish to change your topic, but you may decide that some other aspect of the topic is more interesting or manageable. Steps to Refining Your TopicOnce you have chosen a general topic idea the next step is to refine your topic and ulitmately to formulate a research question. Consider the points below to keep your research focused and on track. If you continue to have difficulties defining a topic talk to your instructor or a librarian. The Research QuestionOnce you have the topic you would like to research, the next step is forming your research question. Your research question should be focused and specifc. The result should also be a question for which there are two or more possible answers. See some examples below:
Assignment GuidelinesBefore selecting your topic, make sure you know what your final project should look like. Each instructor will probably have different assignment requirements so be sure to read your assignment thoroughly and check for specific guidelines concerning:
You instructor will probably provide specific requirements for your assignment, if not the table below may provide a rough guide:
Assigning Limits to Your TopicA topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or narrow. One way to narrow a broad topic is to assign limits to what you will cover. Some common ways to limit a topic are listed below using the broad topic, "the environment" as an example.
Example: What sources of pollution affect the Genesee County water supply?
Example: How can the environment contribute to the culture, politics and society of the Western states? Can a research question be broad?Research questions should be objectives turned into questions. If research questions do not cover the objectives set, then it is narrow, but where they covered more than the objectives then it can be said to be broad.
How broad should a research question be?In general, however, a good research question should be: Clear and focused. In other words, the question should clearly state what the writer needs to do. Not too broad and not too narrow.
Should a research question be broad or narrow?Narrowing your topic is an important step in the research process. A broad, general topic makes it difficult to find specified research, so narrowing down the topic is needed.
Should a research question be broad or specific?A good research question should be specific and focused, and its answer should be discovered through data collection and analysis.
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