We often start researching topics we are unfamiliar with and work from a thesis question that does not reflect a depth of knowledge around a topic.
















Writing a research thesis question and sticking with that question throughout your research is not a good idea unless you have a specific prompt. The Research process is an iterative process, or a series of steps that you repeat, tweaking and improving your questions and information with each cycle. It is important to stay flexible when developing your research questions because as you learn about the topic you research, you develop better questions to help you better understand your topic.

You start by uncovering your own understanding of the topic and create questions to help you better understand your topic even more and then find resources to help you gain more understanding about your questions. 

You begin by building an understanding of your topic and keep developing that understanding through questions and building upon the lexicon and ideas around that topic. Developing a concept map is a great way to get started on the development of your topic and offers a great way to progress towards the research questions you want to answer.

When you start writing questions on your concept map, it is important to remember that these questions are working questions, meaning they can and most likely change as you start to become an expert in your topic. 

 

If you have developed a thesis question, this is a working thesis question, meaning you can change it throughout your research as you grow your knowledge.

 

 

Look at the chart below to help you understand the research process, and consider how you might cycle through this process as you learn.