Answering questions about the 5W's and H can help you better conceptualize your research question, as well as help you tease out helpful terms and phrases that you can use to search for information.

Your Topic/Idea for Research Paper:

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STEP 1 - Focus Your Topic

Questions to Consider:

WHO?

Who are the people that you will be studying? [e.g. teens, alcoholics, Bill Clinton]

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WHAT?

What events(s) are you studying? (e.g. the Viet Nam War, sheep cloning, etc.)

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WHERE?

Where do these events occur? [e.g. the court system, Minnesota, virtual reality]
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WHEN?

At what point in time do these events occur?

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Date of research studies, reports, etc. you wish to find?

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WHY?

Why is this happening? Why is it important to look at this research topic?

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DO YOU NOW NEED TO RESTATE YOUR TOPIC?

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STEP 2 - Create a Research Strategy

Next, you will pull out the most important terms or elements of your research question. Using these concept or ideas, you'll create a search strategy that will best enable you to find information on your topic.

List the important terms or concepts:

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List any synonyms for the terms above:

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Combine your terms using:

• Connecting words: and, not, or
• Parentheses to group synonyms
• Asterisks to truncate words so the database will find plurals and/ or alternative spellings

Identify the sources that you will use to find the information you need. These may include:

• Print or electronic journal article indexes, such as Women Studies Abstracts or Expanded Academic ASAP
• Reputable Web pages
• Specialized encyclopedias, such as The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature

Need help identifying sources? Go to QuickStart (http://research.lib.umn.edu/) and choose the topic area you are researching in.

List the most promising sources you have identified here:

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QuickStudy: Library Research Guide

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