IDS 403 - Technology and Society
Course guide developed specifically for IDS 403 to help support the research and learning processes.
Choosing a Topic & Developing a Research Question
Choosing a Topic
When selecting a topic for your research, ask yourself the following questions:
- Will it sustain my interest?
- Am I choosing a topic because it seems easy or my friends are doing it?
- Does it fit the parameters of my assignment?
- How much time do I have and how long does the assignment need to be?
- Is credible information on this topic readily available?
Watch this Credo Learning Tools video on How to Select a Topic This link opens in a new window which is an essential foundational step of the research process. The other videos listed on the Credo Research Quick Tips page from the How to Select a Topic video could also be helpful. Take your time viewing those resources.
Narrowing Down or Broadening your Topic
When you need to broaden or narrow down your topic, ask yourself:
Who?
Who am I researching?
- Consider age, gender, profession, ethnicity, humans vs. animals vs. corporations, etc.
What?
What am I researching?
- Consider potential causes and effects, trends, statistics, problems, etc.
When?
What time period am I interested in?
- Consider when the topic became significant, century vs. specific dates, historical vs. current data, etc.
Where?
Where is my research topic taking place?
- Consider country, state, city, urban vs. rural, environments like prisons vs. college towns, etc.
Why?
Why does my research matter?
- Consider what makes it important to you, to your colleagues and peers, to your community, to the world, etc.
