1. How to Narrow a Research Topic

2. How to Narrow a Research Topic
When your research topic is too broad, ask yourself these questions:
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?

3. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Let’s see how this works with an example: learning disabilities
This topic is too broad (general) to write about in a short paper. We need to make it narrower (more specific).

4. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Who?
TOPIC: LEARNING DISABILITIES
Populations
Age
NEW TOPIC:
Learning Disabilities in teenage girls
Gender
Race or Ethnicity

5. How to Narrow a Research Topic
What?
TOPIC: LEARNING DISABILITIES
Types
ADHD
NEW TOPIC:
ADHD in teenage girls
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia

6. How to Narrow a Research Topic
When?
TOPIC: LEARNING DISABILITIES
Timeframes
Current or historical view
NEW TOPIC:
ADHD in 7th grade girls
Period of life

7. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Where?
TOPIC: LEARNING DISABILITIES
Places
States
NEW TOPIC:
ADHD in 7th grade American girls
Regions
Countries

8. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Why? How?
TOPIC: LEARNING DISABILITIES
Evaluate
NEW TOPIC:
Why are some methods more successful than others for treating ADHD among 7th grade girls
Causes
Treatments
Outcomes

9. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Mix n’ Match
Combine any number of elements that you derive from asking these questions until you find an interesting topic to research.
Some examples:
Causes and treatment of Dysgraphia in among young boys.
Prevalence of ADHD in teen-age males in the United States
Changes in treatment for compulsive behaviors in present-day Australia.