Skip to Main Content

The Research Process: Select, Explore, Narrow, Refine, and Use: Research question & thesis statement

Learn how to search, write a thesis, and evaluate resources effectively.

Research question and Thesis Statement

Having a thesis or research question can also help you narrowing your search. When formulating a question, consider some of these strategies:

  • Identify a topic you find interesting and is related to your course or assignment.

  • Explore about the topic: what perspectives, ideas, angles could be relevant?

  • Use the "Journalist's questions": Why? What? Who? How? When? Where?

  • The potential answers to your question should be arguable; they can't simply state known facts.

  • Write a clear, focused question. Avoid being overly general. Instead, try to identify potential perspectives to narrow your focus

Example:
Unclear question: What are the effects of climate change for Northern Canada? -- This question is too broad: climate change includes several potential effects; it will be difficult to write about all of them.

Clearer question: What are the most significant impacts of permafrost thawing for the development and maintenance of road infrastructure in Northern Canada? -- This question focuses on one specific aspect of climate change and its effects on a particular area of interest (road infrastructure).

 

 

A thesis statement is a sentence that presents your position or a claim regarding a particular topic. The thesis statement clarifies what you will be exploring in your paper. Consider these strategies when formulating your thesis:

Argument: a thesis statement should present an arguable point that can be supported by additional information. A good thesis statement has a focus.

Example:

Too broad: Climate change has negative impacts for the environment. -- This thesis is too broad (there are many potential negative impacts of climate change on the environment), and it is hardly debatable.

Focused: Climate change has negative impacts for the reproduction of birds, as warmer temperatures and different season patterns affect the availability of food sources normally used by breeding birds. 

 

Your research question: you can think of your thesis as an arguable answer to your research question.

Example:

Question: Is wolf cull an effective way to boost the recovery of caribou population?

Thesis: Wolf cull is ineffective to boost the recovery of caribou population, since habitat loss and environmental pollution have a higher impact in caribou survival rates than predation by wolves.

 

Supporting points: your thesis can include supporting points that help you support your main argument.

Example:

The use of social media contributes to increase anxiety in college students because it exposes students to unrealistic expectations about  life goals,  relationships, and body image. --  In this example, the part highlighted in blue is considered the main argument, and the ones in yellow are specific points that are connected to the main argument and can serve as a justification for it.