Starting with a research question means approaching your research with curiosity and an open mind. You should let your question guide you both in practical terms of helping you come up with search terms (keywords) as well as in avoiding bias by assuming you know the outcome or answer.
Check out this tutorial from Arizona State Libraries to get started:
This graphic emphasizes how reading various sources can play a role in defining your research topic.
If your topic is broad, consider asking yourself the 6 Ws (who, what, when, where, why, and how) and trying a combination of these elements with your broad topic:
Examples with the topic concussions in sports:
Research Question: What is the effect on adults of sports concussions received in childhood?
If you're not finding information on your topic, it might be too narrow and needs to be broadened. Consider removing a word or element from your research question/thesis/topic.
Image from Unbxd, all rights reserved. Used for educational purposes only under Fair Use.
You will need to use keywords to search for information online and in library resources. Follow this guidance to identify keywords that will be useful for searching.
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