Define your topic as a focused research question

It helps to focus and narrow a topic when you can take your ideas and write them as a specific research question. Use the following steps to go from an idea to a focused research question:

• You will often begin with an idea or a word
• From this idea or word you will gather background information
• Then you will develop a more specific interest in an aspect of something relating to that word
• Then you will begin to have some questions about the idea
• These questions can then become a focused research topic

For example: 

• Ideas = interior design, Frank Lloyd Wright or modern architecture
• Research Question = How has Frank Lloyd Wright influenced modern architecture?
• Focused Research Question = What design principles used by Frank Lloyd Wright are common in contemporary homes?

Another example: Ideas =  nutrition, children, health education, health risks Research Question = How does nutrition education help children? Focused Research Question = What are the major health risks related to diet for school aged children? Another Focused Research Question = What are the benefits of nutrition education for school children?