Getting Started with Research at Shapiro Library
This guide discusses understanding information sources, formulating a topic and search phrase, where and how to search the library for information, how to evaluate sources, how to cite sources, and more.
What is a Research Question?
A research question articulates the problem or issue you want to explore. It serves as a roadmap for your research, shaping your methodology and helping you organize your thoughts. The goal of your research is to answer your research question. So when you are developing one, you want to ask yourself: What do you want to know about a topic? A good research question is typically open-ended, meaning it can’t be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." Instead, it encourages exploration and analysis, leading to new insights or findings. For example:
Topic
Food Security
Research Question
What are the impacts of urban gardening initiatives on food security and community health in low-income urban areas?