Developing Your Research Question And creating a plan to answer it!

A Great Question is ESSENTIAL! A great question is essential to all research, whether the final product is a paper, a vacation, or the purchase of a new car. By asking the right question, you provide the reader with a thought-provoking issue to ponder. In academic research, the question you are researching is expressed as either a question or a statement in the introduction of your paper or project. Short synopsis of what you want to find out and a road map of the points you will make to support your case

As you determine your problem statement remember: Be specific about what you want to know. Don’t put your professor to sleep! Use the three higher-level thinking skills - analysis, synthesis, evaluation. Offer depth and insight! Deal with questions, issues and controversies! Stir something up! Debate! Discuss! Now you are setting yourself up to draw well- supported conclusions!

What about pizza? (A Broad (and tasty) Topic)

But just “Pizza” is to broad… Narrow Your Focus! Broad Topic - Pizza Restricted Topic – Pepperoni Pizza Narrowed Topic – Pepperoni Pizza Restaurants Even MORE Narrow – Pepperoni Pizza Restaurants in Gainesville Research Question – Where can I get the most flavorful pepperoni pizza in Gainesville?

Some early suggestions that will save revisions later: As you begin creating your problem question/statement consider that this will become your introductory paragraph of your final paper. Use a formal, scholarly writing style. If you don't feel comfortable with that, go to GALILEO and pull up a few journal articles for a model. Don't address the reader directly - "You will find..." "We know that..." "Everyone is familiar with..." Don't get personal - "In my experience..." “I was surprised to see..." Words like you, I, we, etc aren’t acceptable in a formal paper. They take the focus off the facts and place them on the reader or writer. Use past tense when talking about the findings of an article - "Smith (2007) reported that communication in business..."