1. How to Narrow a Research Topic

2. How to Narrow a Research Topic
When your research topic is too broad, ask yourself these questions:
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?

3. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Let’s see how this works with an example: eating disorders
This topic is too broad (general) to write about in a short paper. We need to make it narrower (more specific).

4. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Who?
TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS
Populations
Age
NEW TOPIC:
Eating disorders in elderly females
Gender
Race or Ethnicity

5. How to Narrow a Research Topic
What?
TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS
Types
Anorexia
NEW TOPIC:
Anorexia in elderly females
Bulimia
Compulsive eating

6. How to Narrow a Research Topic
When?
TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS
Timeframes
Current or historical view
NEW TOPIC:
Bulimia in middle-aged females
Period of life

7. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Where?
TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS
Places
States
NEW TOPIC:
Anorexia in Australian women
Regions
Countries

8. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Why?
TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS
Evaluate
Causes
NEW TOPIC:
Successful methods for treatment of compulsive eating
Treatments
Outcomes

9. How to Narrow a Research Topic
Mix n’ Match
Combine any number of elements that you derive from asking these questions until you find an interesting topic to research.
Some examples:
Causes and treatment of anorexia in college athletes
Prevalence of bulimia in teen-age males in the United States
Changes in treatment for compulsive overeaters, 1950-present.