How to Narrow a Research Topic

1
How to Narrow a Research Topic
2
When your research topic is too broad, ask
yourself these questions Who? What? When? Where?
Why?
3
Lets see how this works with an example eating
disorders This topic is too broad (general) to
write about in a short paper. We need to make it
narrower (more specific).
4
Who?
TOPIC EATING DISORDERS
Populations
Age
NEW TOPIC Eating disorders in elderly females
Gender
Race or Ethnicity
5
What?
TOPIC EATING DISORDERS
Types
Anorexia
NEW TOPIC Anorexia in elderly females
Bulimia
Compulsive eating
6
When?
TOPIC EATING DISORDERS
Timeframes
Current or historical view
NEW TOPIC Bulimia in middle-aged females
Period of life
7
Where?
TOPIC EATING DISORDERS
Places
States
NEW TOPIC Anorexia in Australian women
Regions
Countries
8
Why?
TOPIC EATING DISORDERS
Evaluate
Causes
NEW TOPIC Successful methods for treatment of
compulsive eating
Treatments
Outcomes
9
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 anorexia in college
  athletes
• Prevalence of bulimia in teen-age males in the
  United States
• Changes in treatment for compulsive overeaters,
  1950-present.