duPont Library: LibGuide Redesign Prototype: Develop Your Topic

Developing Your Research Question

The idea of developing your research question so early in the research process can be intimidating.

What if you can't find enough information? What if you change your mind?

The research question you come up with at the beginning will give you something to go on, but you don't need to feel committed to it. Your research path can and should change as you move through the research process. Use your research question to keep your goal in mind, and change the question if your goal changes.

From course readings
From class lectures and discussions
From your own notes (did you write down any ideas or questions?)
From other classes (have you noticed any connections?)
From your life outside of class (discussions with family and friends, books or podcasts, random thoughts, etc.)

Get ideas from scholarly articles

Scholarly books and articles show a conversation on a topic. "Listening" to this conversation can be a great way to get ideas of what you want to talk about.

Try searching on JSTOR

Use terms from your background research
Once you get results, limit your search to "Anthropology" under Subjects
Scroll through the results, paying attention to terminology and subjects (for example, I noticed that most articles used the term "Fulani" instead of "Fula people").

What are Anthropologists talking about? What are they interested in?