All research begins with a question derived from a general topic that piques your interest. When coming up with questions related to your topic, avoid those that only call for one-word answers. Try using interrogative words such as why and how. The following examples illustrate how to narrow broad topics to create focused research questions.
| Broad Topic | ➔ | Narrow Topic | ➔ | Focused Topic | ➔ | Research Question |
| Human health | ➔ | Smoking and cancer | ➔ | Smokers who are diagnosed with cancer | ➔ | Why is it difficult for some smokers who are diagnosed with lung cancer to stop smoking? |
| Computer games | ➔ | Computer game identities | ➔ | Computer game identities and reality | ➔ | How does a player’s virtual identity in role-playing games impact her/his expression and understanding of self in the “real,” non-virtual world? |
| Eating disorders | ➔ | Teenagers and eating disorders | ➔ | Teen cognition and eating disorders | ➔ | What is the cognitive impact, if any, of bulimia among teens in school? |
| Energy sources | ➔ | Fracking for natural gas | ➔ | Impacts of fracking on health and the environment | ➔ | How has scientific discovery of the impacts of fracking inform the adoption, practices, regulation, and resistance to fracking? |
| Classroom behavior | ➔ | Student participation in the college classroom | ➔ | The physiology of participating in class | ➔ | What happens in the body before, during, and after one feels they have performed the “right” or “wrong” answer in front of their peers and teacher in class? |