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Writing / Research: Research Questions and Literature Reviews

Starting your Research

As you begin your research, you will need to develop a research question and possibly begin a literature review. Watch the videos below to learn more!

Developing a Research Question

This Research Question Development Module teaches students that research is not always a linear process and gives them the tools they need to construct an appropriate research question. Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • brainstorm an initial idea or topic,
  • think about what you already know and what you want to know about your topic,
  • explore online to find some initial information for more ideas and search terms,
  • generate possible research questions using question lenses,
  • evaluate questions for research, and
  • be ready to pick a research question!

Literature Review

After selecting your topic, you will need to conduct a literature review to find out what has been written about your topic and situate your contribution into the larger academic conversation. Watch this video to find out more about what a literature review is and how to conduct one.