Research means exploring—sometimes ideas, sometimes current issues, sometimes people’s lives or the effects of past events. The key to exploration is asking good questions.
We live in an information-rich society where technology gives us instant answers: movie times, weather forecasts, song lyrics. That’s great for quick lookups—but when it comes to academic research, the sheer volume of information can feel overwhelming.
That’s where research questions come in. Think of them as a grocery list guiding you through a massive “storehouse” of information:
They give you a focused place to start.
They help you find the most relevant information for your thesis.
They keep you from getting lost or sidetracked.
They even help you stay organized once you begin writing.
Your list of questions doesn’t have to be perfect—it will grow and change as your research develops.
For this assignment, you will need to chose an issue to advocate for or against. But you will need to understand your issue thoroughly in order to make a good argument. Think of your research in terms of questions you need to answer: you aren't just looking for information, you're looking for ANSWERS!
In addition to your class lecture and discussion notes and your textbook, here are some websites that might help jumpstart your thinking on child advocacy issues:
It's important to begin your research learning something about your subject; in fact, you won't be able to create a focused, manageable thesis unless you already know something about your topic. This step is important so that you will:
Reference materials are highly credible sources filled with thorough yet concise information that communicates the who, what, when, why, and where information on your topic right at the start of your research.
Why search here? Use this database for preliminary reading as you start your research. You'll learn about your topic by reading authoritative topic overviews on a wide variety of subjects.
What's included: Gale eBooks is comprised of subject, specialized encyclopedias with articles written by scholars and experts.
Why search here? Use this database when you want to find comprehensive, unbiased reporting and analysis to get background information on issues in the news.
What's included: Overview reports of topics related to health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy in America.
Why search here? This is a great database to use when you want to explore different viewpoints on controversial or hot-button issues.
What's included: It includes pro/con articles, court cases, primary sources, videos, media, editorials, and news on more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. Use the search or browse topics by subject or A to Z.
Think of a television program involving a criminal investigation. Experts arrive on the scene to answer a fundamental question: What happened here? But their investigation merely begins with that basic question. Soon they are finding themselves answering more specific questions in order to figure out what happened. Who all was involved with the crime? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why did it happen? Were there any witnesses? It is only by answering a series of smaller questions that they are ultimately able to see the big picture.
You may start off with an overriding question such as Should workplace policies do more to encourage breastfeeding? But you'll soon find yourself asking many more questions on your journey. Below are some examples of additional questions one might ask about breastfeeding:
If you want to learn more about research questions, try our guide Develop Research Questions. You might also want to watch this short video explaining the benefits of research questions.