Research Tools and Techniques: Before you start...

All meaningful research begins with a question.  

If you create a quality research question before your start your research, it's likely that your research project will go much more smoothly.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How broad should the question be?  Are you writing a paragraph? A 5-page essay?
• Do I know enough about my topic to ask an intelligent question?
  • If not, consult basic reference sources to learn more.
• Is your question biased?  
• Will the answers to your question add anything new to the discussion around your topic?
  • Is there a settled answer already?
  • Are you approaching the question from a different viewpoint than others?

These sources will help you find background information on your topic. 

This can help you:

• Discover which aspects of your topic are most important to other researchers.  Your instructor will likely expect you to address these areas.
• Find search terms.
• Learn basic facts about your topic that may help you narrow your search.